Continuity and Change in Turkmenistan's Domestic and Foreign Policies under Gurbanguly Berdi Muhamedov

Having a rentier economy dependent on natural gas exports, Turkmenistan was administered as a dictatorship under Saparmurat Niyazov after it gained independence from the Soviet Union. It also pursued a foreign policy based on non-participation in any international alliance and pact. This paper studies Turkmenistan's domestic and foreign policies under his successor President Berdimuhamedov. It first deals with the nature of Turkmenistan's rentier economy and its repercussions on domestic and foreign policies. Then it displays that in overall its domestic politics has continued under President Berdimuhamedov, but certain changes have occurred in its foreign policy directly affecting Turkmenistan's relations with the region and the world.