Geopolitical Genome and Turkmenistan’s Foreign Policy Evolution

پژوهش ‎های جغرافیای سیاسی

Article 5, Volume 1, Issue 2, March 2017, Pages 109-138   

Document Type: مقالات علمی -پژوهشی

DOI: 10.22067/pg.v1i2.41876

Author

Jahangir Heydari^*

University Kharazmi

Abstract

Extended Abstract
1. INTRODUCTION
Geopolitical genome is the potential of a country. As the genomics is the study of hundreds or perhaps thousands of simultaneous genetic reactions for identifying the main causes of disease and understanding the mechanism of an organism, the activation and extinguishing of the geopolitical genomes are those adopted policies based on the geographical and human potentials of the countries which is activated or extinguished through the above mentioned factors. The study of the geopolitical genomes and controlling the type and quality of their activity guaranty the country and prevent it from the influence and power of other states. By identifying the geopolitical genomes, the activity of those genomes which are going to become geopolitical codes to the rival countries can be stopped. In line with the development of the influences and geopolitical boundaries of the country, the genomes can also become the sources of power.
Turkmenistan, in terms of political development, has not developed. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the motive of the great powers for influence increased. In addition to the traditional influence of Russia in the region, and activities of America and the European countries’ after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early years, China has taken an active economic policy in Central Asia. This country has had geopolitical behavior beyond its political geography in field off origin policy.
Turkmenistan has had huge geopolitical problems, but, in terms of foreign policies it has managed to demonstrate actions beyond its reality in and out of the region. When Bordi Mohamd of took the office, the first important step to achieve was to increase foreign investments. In this article, it was attempted to study there as on and qualities of foreign policy actions of Turkmenistan, based on the principle of conceptual geopolitical genome ,since, it seems that, the changes in the country’s geopolitical capacities has paved the way for the Turkmen’s world wide acceptance.
Geopolitical genome of a country is seen as the geopolitical codes by the rival countries which systematizes the programs of a country's foreign policy against the target country. That is, a country organizes its foreign policies based on its genome map. Moreover, the rival country tries to undo the target country's foreign policy according to geopolitical codes available in that country. Countries, based on their unique geopolitical genomes, have a political character and are a range of in fluential capabilities in the foreign policy. In order to meet the challenges raised from the county’s human and geopolitical issues, adopting strategies to neutralize or extinguish them is essential.
Geopolitical code is the foreign policy operational agenda of a country that evaluates the geographical places out of the borders. Geopolitical codes are specific to each country, and countries try to influence and target the other countries’ geopolitical codes to achieve their goals and interests. A county’s genome map is considered as geopolitical codes by the rival countries and leads the mental programs of a country’s foreign policy towards the target country.
2. METHODOLOGY
The research methodology was descriptive-analytic. Therefore, after an extensive literature review and data processing, in this study the genome of geopolitics and geopolitical code were first described. Then, the dual approach indices of geopolitical genome activation, factors affecting the activation/extinguishment of geopolitics genome, geopolitical and the confrontation of geopolitical codes/genomes and dual behavior (geopolitical/geo-pacific) in the study were designed. Corresponding to the designed factors, the effective factors in the activation of geopolitical genomes in the Turkmenistan’s foreign policy were extracted.
3. DISCUSSION
Turkmenistan's position in Central Asia is of crucial importance. It has enormous sunder ground as resources and is the gateway to Central Asian countries. Turkmenistan is also the region’s channel of communication with the out side world, and has the capabilities of geo-cultural and economic potential. Turkmenistan, through the activation of energy transfer routing, neutralizing the challenge of the lack of access to oceans, and developing strategies to decrease the challenges in the region has been able to demonstrate, in the foreign policies, actions beyond its real being, regionally and infra-regionally.
In proceed we show the extinguishment and awakening of advantageous and power-maker genomes of the Turkmenistan’s foreign policy.
The advantageous geopolitical genomes
Fundamental restriction and monopolizing the gas transport by Russia
Cumbersome tax rules for foreign company activities
Being limited to land and the Russia's monopoly of gas lines
Economic package system
Isolation of foreign policy

The strategies of geopolitical extinguishing genomes advantageous
The diversification of gas export options
Foreign exchange and encouraging foreign investment
Activating the routing of energy transport
Economic Development (oil and gas, agriculture, textile and private sector)
The end of self- imposed isolation policies and active participation in international community
Also in proceed we show awakening the empowering genome of foreign policy
The strategies of activating the potential strengthening genomes
-Activating cultural symbols celebrating celebrities and historical events-Finding a position in the international economy
-Making peace with neighbors and attracting regional actors extending roads with neighbors
-Declaring the neutral policy at the international level with stabilizing the internal conditions
-Increasing negotiation internationally
Employing potential genome
Cultural background
Lack of religious and ethnic diversity
The better location compared with other republics in central Asia
The vacuum power in the region.
4.CONCLUSION
Thus, using the plans of Bordi Mohamad, the previous policies were put aside and the conditions were prepared for activating power-maker genomes. Turkmenistan policy makers started to identify economical and geo-cultural potentials, geo-strategic conditions and positions, and hydro-political challenges. In the next step, the activation policy of proper genomes for each sector was adopted. Taking advantage of oil and gas resources led to the activation of finding an international genome in the economic policy and energy transferring routing. In geo-culture, the symbolization genome and cultural symbolism were activated to strengthen the national identity and recognize the historical realities. To extinguish the critical situation of water The strategy of cooperation with Iran and Afghanistan was posed as an agenda , Regarding the geostrategic situation of Turkmenistan as agate way for entrance to central Asia ] , its proximity to Iran , its short distance with Russia also tendency of America to penetrate in this region , adopting an neutral was effective .
One of the other challenges of Turkmenistan is lack of access to free waters that has been overcome through activating some genomes such as the railway link with Iran and Uzbekistan, attracting foreign economic investments, and enhancing border markets and free trade zones.

Keywords

Turkmenistan; Geopolitical Genome; foreign policy; Geopacific; Activation; Deactivation

References

Ahmadi Pour, Z. et al. (2011). Explained the geopolitical formation of regional organizations in the field of geopolitics in the caspian/central Asia. Spheres of Security, 12. [In Persian]

Ali Pour, M. R. (2009). The development of economic cooperation between Islamic Republic of Iran and Turkmenistan horizons. Events and Analysis, 234. [In Persian]

Asian Development Outlook (2014). Turkmenistan, Fiscal Policy for Inclusive Growth,http://www.adb.org/countries/turkmenistan/economy

Ataee, F. & Azizi, H. R. (2010). The role of energy factor in relations between Iran and Turkmenistan. Political and International Studies, 3,745-758. [In Persian]

Ataee, F. & Shojaee, M. K. (2010). Continuity and change in domestic andforeign policy course of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdi muhamedov. Central Eurasian Studies, 6, 97-110. [In Persian]

Behishtipur, H. (2011). The principle of neutrality of Turkmenistan's Foreign Policy. Retrieved from: http://beheshtipour.blogfa.com/post-348.aspx, 27 avalanches. [In Persian]

Behzadi, R. (2001). Symbol in the mythology: The culture of the symbolic figures in theart of east and west, Monthly Art, 35-36, 52-56. [In Persian]

Boss helsop, H. (2003). The Caspian states of the former Soviet Union; Economic performance since 1998, In S. N. Cumming (Ed.), Oil, transition and security in central Asia. London and New York: Routledge.

DehghaniFirozabadi, S. J. (2006). Iranian foreign policy discourse in central Asia and the Caucasus. IRAS, 1(2), 114-133. [In Persian]

Dehshiri, M. R. (2009). Media and culture. Cultural Studies, 2(8).179-208. [In Persian]

Department of Justice (1993). Alert series Turkmenistan, political conditions in the post-soviet era, Washington .D.C: INS Resource Information Center.

DeSalle, R. &Yudell, M. (2012). Welcome to the genome: Auser's guide to the genetic past, present, and future, (3rd Ed.).(‌Trans .A.tavakolisaberi). Tehran: Maziyar Publications. [In Persian]

Ekhbari, M. et. al. (2011). America's efforts to stabilize Iran's geopolitical hegemony in the world. The Study of Human Geography, 75, 87-112. [In Persian]

Farajirad, A. &Moradi, H. (2012). Energy geopolitics in central Asia and its impacton regional and trans-regional competition. Proceedings of the FifthCongress of Iran's geopolitical, 3 and 4, Khordad. Rasht: Islamic Azad University of Rasht. [In Persian].

Fayaz, I., & Sarfaraz, H. & Ahmadi, A. (2011). Semiotics of cultural perspectives in cultural geography: The strategic concept for understanding and discovery of the meaning. Cultural Studies, 4(4), 91-116. [In Persian]

Ganzi, G. (2004). Turkmenistan’s Caspian Resources and its international political economy, In S. Akiner (Ed.), The Caspian: Politics, energy and security.162-196. London and New York: Routledge.

Hafeznia, M. R. (2003). The cultural heritage of Turkmenistan in shaping nationalIdentity. Lecturer in the Humanities, 7(2), 109-123. [In Persian]

Kahveci, H. (2003). Oil and gas sector in the Post-Soviet Turkmenistan: Opportunities and challenges. Retrieved from: http://www.obiv.org.tr/2003/AVRASYA/hkahveci.pdf, (accessedon 7 / 12 / 2009).

Koolaee, E. and Azizi, H. R. (2010).The role of Energy Transfer in Turkmenistan's relationswith Russia. Central Eurasian Studies, 7,125-105. [In Persian]

Koolaee, E., & Tishehyar, M. (2009). China’s energy security approach inthe Central Asia. Proceeding of International Conference on Eurasian Peace andCooperation: Challenges and Opportunities. Kashmir: University of Kashmir, 1-18. [In Persian]

Lewin, B. (2004). Gene. (Trans.H. Bastian & M. piroz). Tehran: Imam Hossein University. [In persion]

Mohammadpuor, A. et al. (2006). The role and function of the evolution of the geographical space border tax department on the border with Iran and Turkmenistan, Professor of Human Sciences, 48,147-172. [In Persian]

Motagi, I. et. al. (2013). Developments in the Arab world: Climate change, geopolitics togeo-culture of strategic security new security, Defense Policy, 12(83), 69-97. [In Persian]

Olcott, M. B. (2006). International Gas trade in central Asia: Turkmenistan, Iran, Russia and Afghanistan, natural gas and geopolitics from 1970 to 2040. New York: Cambridge university press.

OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries). (2013). Annual Statistical Bulletin. Retrieved from http://www.opec .org/opec_web/static_ files_project/media/ downloads/publications/ ASB2015. Pdfs

Pomfert, R. (2003). Central Asia since 1991: The experience of the new independent states, Paper Presented in an Informal Seminar at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development on 19th. Feb.

Pourahmadi, H. (2011). The feasibility and impact of the organization of gas exporting countries (Avjk) on convergence and improve security, power and other benefits of the Gas Exporting Countries, Foreign Affairs, 4,7-52. [In Persian]

Purmhrany, M. (2009). Iran's Geopolitical Challenges in the External Borders, Presented inTehran innovation, (n.p.): (n.p.). [In Persian]

Safavi S.Y. & Mahdian, H. (2010). Iran's energy geopolitics and energysecurity of the east, Human Geography, 2, 31-46. [In Persian]

Samuylov, M. Sergei (2001). The Ethnic-Cultural-Geopolitical approach to formation of the new limited Russia’s Security System within a Post-Soviet space, final report of the project. Moscow: (n.p.).

Sanaee, M. (2011). Iran and central Asia: Trends and prospects. Tehran: Ministry of Foreign Affairs. [In Persian]

Shadivand, GH. (2011). An analysis of the US presence in the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea oil and Gas resource, Journal of the Association for Energy Economics,146-145,1-6. [In Persian]

Shaymergenov, T. (2006). Geopolitics and energy diplomacy in central Asia and the Caspian. Central Asia and the Caucasus, 41, (5)1-13.

Sinai, V. (2011). Hydro, water security and development cooperation between Iran, Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. Foreign Affairs, 2,185-212. [In Persian]

TaghaviAsl, S. (2008). Iran's new geopolitics of Kazakestan to Georgia (3rd Ed.). Tehran: Ministry of Foreign Affairs. [In Persian]

Turkmenistan Country Report (2012). BTI 2012 / Turkmenistan Country Report. Gütersloh: BertelsmannStiftung, http://www.bti - project.org.

ZeynelAbedin, U. & Saber, Z. (2013). Iran's geopolitical interests in the fields of Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan using matrix measure. Geopolitics, 9,108-135. [In Persian]