Democratic Republic of Afghanistan

The Democratic Republic of Afghanistan was Afghanistan’s official name from 1978 to 1987, under a communist government established after the Saur Revolution and backed by the Soviet Union.

Saur Revolution: The April 1978 coup in Afghanistan that brought the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan to power. It overthrew President Mohammed Daoud Khan and established the government that adopted this republic’s name.
One-party state: A political system in which one party monopolizes national political power. The ruling party controlled the republic’s institutions and restricted political competition.
Babrak Karmal: Afghan communist leader who governed from 1979 to 1986 after Soviet forces intervened. His presidency marked the republic’s turn toward Soviet-backed leadership after Amin’s removal.
Republic of Afghanistan: The official name adopted by Afghanistan in 1987 as the communist government revised its political identity. The renaming formally replaced the Democratic Republic’s title during Najibullah’s effort to broaden support.
People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan: The Afghan communist party that ruled from 1978 until the fall of the Democratic Republic in 1992. Its factions dominated the state and repeatedly fought over the direction of the revolution.
Khalq: A radical faction of Afghanistan’s communist party, led by Nur Muhammad Taraki and Hafizullah Amin. Khalq leaders dominated the state’s early years and pursued rapid, coercive reforms.
Hafizullah Amin: Afghan communist leader who ruled from September to December 1979 before being killed during the Soviet intervention. His brief rule ended in the Soviet operation that installed Karmal.
Kingdom of Afghanistan: Afghanistan’s monarchy, which lasted from 1926 until the republic’s establishment in 1973. The monarchy represents an earlier political order, before Daoud Khan’s republic and the 1978 revolution.
Mohammed Daoud Khan: Afghan president who ruled from 1973 until his overthrow and death in the Saur Revolution. His government was toppled by the coup that brought the Democratic Republic into being.
Parcham: A faction of Afghanistan’s communist party associated with Babrak Karmal and a more gradual political approach. Parcham’s leaders gained power after the Soviet intervention and reshaped the government.

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