The Rentier State Model and Central Asian Studies: The Turkmen Case

Abstract

The collapse of the Soviet Union created a vacuum of theoretical perspective for Central Asian studies.This paper argues that the rentier state model is the best analytical tool to analyze the newly independent republics of Central Asia. Natural gas and oil politics essentially affects both socio-economic and political structures of the region. Furthermore, it has an eminent impact on Central Asian republics' foreign policies and intra-regional relations. The paper analyzes Turkmenistan, as a representative case of the region, through the lens of the rentier state model and reveals the impact of natural gas revenues on Turkmen domestic politics and foreign policy 

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