Huseini, Said Reza. 2026. Local government reflected in Bactrian documents. Afghanistan 9(1). 85–103.
Drawing on an analysis of Bactrian documents produced between the early fourth and the late eighth century, the article shows that local government was the foundation of political structure in Bactria. By focusing on three areas of Guzgan, Rob and Kadagstan, the article demonstrates that these areas had their own rulers who managed them through local administration staffed by local people, who handled social, economic, political and military issues. The authority of these rulers was limited to their areas, and none of them could interfere in other areas. Local government was the most effective way to manage Bactria’s diverse geography and its multicultural populations. It persisted even after Bactria became part of the Persian, Huns, Turks, and Arab Muslim empires’ political systems. It was a model of governance well adapted region’s diverse population and proved far more stable and long-lived than the unitary governments of modern Afghanistan that provoked regional opposition and regularly collapsed.
Abstract