Journal of Greater Khorasan

Journal of Greater Khorasan

Reflection of the left (socialist) discourse in the historiography of Ghubar With reference to "Afghanistan on the path of history"

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Reza Arefi 1
Valiollah barzegar klishomi 2
Esmaeil Changizi ardehaei 3
1 PhD student of Islamic History and Civilization at Imam Khomeini International University Iran
2 b) Assistant Professor at the Department of History and Civilization of Islamic Nations at Imam Khomeini International University, Iran
3 c) Assistant Professor of the History Department of Kharazmi University, Iran
10.22034/jgk.2025.378778.1095
Abstract
The discourse of leftist historiography, alongside nationalist historiography, was an effort towards the modernization of Afghanistan in continuation of the Constitutionalist Movement. Ghulam Mohammad Ghobar (1897-1978 AD) is considered one of the most renowned left-leaning historians of Afghanistan. Despite the authoritarian environment, he published his historical works with a critical and analytical perspective, among which his book Afghanistan in the Course of History is a notable resource for scholars of Afghan history.The present study, seeking to answer the question of what the components and characteristics of Ghobar's historical perspective and historiography are and how they are reflected in his work, has employed a qualitative method using thematic analysis as the technique for data analysis. Therefore, explaining the dominant discourses in Ghobar's historiography is an objective of this research.The findings indicate the profound depth of the influence of the socialist discourse on his intellectual framework, though nationalism has also cast a shadow on his thoughts and writings. The logic of Ghobar's historiography has an anti-class and anti-aristocratic nature. He endeavored to bring marginalized groups into the text of history and to establish a connection between contemporary Afghanistan and its historical past. Thus, if contemporary historians sought out events within royal courts, Ghobar's gaze was focused on the life and sufferings of the subaltern.
Keywords
Socialist historiography, Ghulam Mohammad Ghubar, Afghanistan, thematic analysis
Subjects
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  • Receive Date 31 December 2022
  • Revise Date 18 April 2024
  • Accept Date 12 June 2025