Yama Afghan — New Standard-Bearers of the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan
History does not repeat itself in exactly the same form, but social contradictions can reappear in new manifestations. October 29 recalls several significant events in world history: the crisis of capitalism, competition among major powers, transformations of political systems, and the development of productive forces. Examining these events through the perspective of historical materialism provides an opportunity to understand the relationship between power, economics, and people’s lives.
Black Tuesday: Economic Crisis and People’s Livelihoods
On October 29, 1929, the Wall Street stock market crash reached a dramatic peak. More than 16 million shares were traded, and paper losses in the market exceeded $14 billion. This event was an important factor in the deepening of the Great Depression, a crisis that helped push unemployment in the United States to approximately 25 percent by 1933. In Germany, economic crisis, combined with the consequences of the First World War and political instability, also contributed to the rise of fascism.
From a Marxist perspective, this experience demonstrates the importance of economic relations in determining the security of people’s livelihoods. The circumstances of an American worker in 1929 are not identical to those of an Afghan farmer today. Nevertheless, both examples raise an important question: how can economic crises threaten the livelihoods of millions of people?
From the Black Sea to the Suez Canal: Competition Over Strategic Routes
In late October 1914, Ottoman naval operations against Russia, amid growing German military influence, led to direct hostilities between the Ottoman and Russian empires and helped bring the Ottoman Empire into the First World War.
On October 29, 1956, Israeli forces invaded the Sinai Peninsula. This marked the beginning of the Suez Crisis, which escalated into British and French military intervention following Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser’s nationalisation of the Suez Canal.
These two events were not historically identical, but both illustrate the strategic importance of key routes and the competition for political and economic influence. The costs of contemporary wars raise a similar question: how much public wealth should be devoted to warfare, and how much should be invested in education, healthcare, and public welfare?
The Republic of Turkey: State Transformation and the Question of Democracy
On October 29, 1923, the Republic of Turkey was proclaimed, and Mustafa Kemal Atatürk became its first president. The Ottoman Sultanate had already been abolished in November 1922.
From a Marxist perspective, the establishment of the republic can be understood as part of the transformation of the state and society during the formation of a modern political order. However, changing the legal form of a state does not, by itself, guarantee democracy or social justice. Afghanistan’s experience also demonstrates that universal education, equal rights for women, and public participation are essential criteria for assessing the democratic substance of any political system.
From the “LO” Message to the Future of the Productive Forces
On October 29, 1969, the first message transmitted through the ARPANET network was sent from the University of California, Los Angeles, to the Stanford Research Institute. The intended message was “LOGIN,” but the system crashed after receiving only the first two letters, “LO.” The complete login message was transmitted approximately an hour later. ARPANET was developed with funding from the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and became one of the pioneering networks that contributed to the development of the internet.
This experience demonstrates how technology can emerge from public investment and scientific research before developing much broader applications. Yet scientific achievements do not automatically create justice. Ownership, access, and the way technology is used play decisive roles in determining how its benefits are distributed.
Historical Lessons for Afghanistan
For Afghanistan, this historical review highlights three practical priorities:
- The rural economy: Expand agricultural cooperatives, provide transparent and affordable credit, develop solar-powered cold-storage facilities, and strengthen irrigation infrastructure to help reduce rural poverty.
- Peace and public resources: Assess wars according to their human and economic costs, rather than solely through the lens of competition among major powers.
- Education and women’s rights: Place girls’ education, women’s equal participation, and the expansion of knowledge at the centre of every development programme.
History teaches us that economic crises, wars, and scientific progress must be examined in relation to power structures and the realities of people’s lives. Afghanistan cannot achieve sustainable development without reducing poverty, expanding education, and strengthening its productive economy.
The land yields its fullest benefits when knowledge, resources, and power serve the hardworking majority. Bread, work, knowledge, and social justice: the true measure of progress must be found in the improvement of people’s lives.