TURKMENISTAN’S POLITICAL CULTURE OF POSITIVE NEUTRALITY AND ITS IMPLICATIONS

Abstract

 Abstract

 After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, as elsewhere in Central Asia, the process of political transition began in Turkmenistan. The political culture that existed in Turkmenistan did not support a smooth transition from the Soviet-era political system to the configuration of democracy and state or nation-building process. To achieve its de-Russification and foreign policy objectives, Turkmenistan adopted the political culture of neutrality. It is argued that as the post-Soviet state building strategy, the concept of neutrality has promoted Turkmenistan’s interests at the national, regional and global level. The research examines the questions: One, how the political culture of neutrality helped Turkmenistan to achieve its post-Soviet stability and postcommunist process of democratization. Two, what are the factors that facilitated Turkmenistan to pursue the policy of neutrality. Three, what are the criticisms on the policy of neutrality.