DEVELOPMENTS OF TURKMENISTAN’S FOREIGN POLICY: POSITIVE NEUTRALISM, IN THEORY AND PRACTICE

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Professor, Political Science Department, University of Tehran

2 PhD Candidate of Regional Studies, University of Tehran

Abstract

The general orientation of the Turkmenistan’s foreign policy in the post-Soviet
era is known as “Positive Neutrality”. On this basis, it is expected that this country
stays out of the military alliances and wars, while showing an active cooperation in
the international arena and in relation to the other countries. The principles of
Turkmenistan’s positive neutrality which has been approved by the United Nations
in 1995, also suggest that Turkmenistan, as a full member of the international
community, should demonstrate an active presence in various international fields,
while observing the principles of neutrality in its foreign policy. Despite the clear
nature of the principle of “positive neutrality”, practical aspects of Turkmenistan’s
foreign policy have experienced many ups and downs and have gone through several
changes. This article tries to analyze the nature of the “positive neutrality” principle
in Turkmenistan’s foreign policy and the reasons for adopting such an orientation.
At the same time, it seeks to study the practical developments of Turkmenistan’s
foreign policy and analyze the nature of these developments. This article shows that
the principles of Turkmenistan’s “permanent neutrality” have been stable during the
period under discussion, and what have changed, are the operational procedures and
the tactics in use of this country’s foreign policy.

Keywords

POLITICAL QUARTERLY
Volume 43, Issue 3 - Serial Number 3
December 2013
Pages 173-196

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History

  • Receive Date: 26 December 2011
  • Revise Date: 19 March 2014
  • Accept Date: 25 June 2012

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