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Personality Cult in Turkmenistan 1991-2006
Purkertová, Eliška ; Šír, Jan (advisor) ; Horák, Slavomír (referee)
This case study discusses the role of Turkmen president Saparmurat Turkmenbashi's personality cult as a part of Turkmen totalitarian ideology. The work's scope is restricted by a time period beginning with the country's declaration of independence in 1991 and ending by president's death in 2006. The work analyses the manner the personality cult served the president to keep his power. It builds upon a thesis that personality cult is a defining feature of Turkmen totalitarianism. Using empirical analysis, the author attempts to analyze the effects of the personality cult on the society and daily life in Turkmenistan and tries to clarify the mechanisms of political power and the position of the personality cult within the regime. The cult marks many aspects of daily life in Turkmenistan - politics, society, architecture, culture, media and even the schooling system and history interpretation.
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Central Asian Foreign Fighters in Syria
Nováková, Sabina ; Bureš, Oldřich (advisor) ; Záhora, Jakub (referee)
This thesis deals with the phenomenon of Central Asian foreign fighters in Syria, 2011- 2017. It analyzes their radicalization, recruitment, and travel patterns. Special emphasis is placed on tracking the home states' responses, including elements of de-radicalization and counter-radicalization. The thesis has found that there is arguably no single factor explaining the Central Asian fighters' radicalization; nor is there a typical profile of a Central Asian fighter. Available data suggest that radicalization and extremist recruitment most often occur in Russia. Furthermore, the analysis of travel patterns has shown that the majority of Central Asian fighters traveled to Syria either indirectly via multiple countries (again, most often Russia) or directly from their country of origin, and then crossed the border from Turkey. The thesis concludes that all five Central Asian states have adopted policies to address the perceived security threat of returning foreign fighters, whereas the hard, restrictive and punitive approach has been prevalent all across the region.
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Transformations of the Central Asian Regional Energy Security Complex after 1991: The Case of the Turkmenistan - China Gas Pipeline
Lídl, Václav ; Šír, Jan (advisor) ; Kaczmarski, Marcin (referee) ; Tichý, Lukáš (referee)
The presented doctoral thesis analyses energy security in the Central Asia region, with an emphasis on the natural gas sector. The research sought to answer the question of whether individual state actors in Central Asia are more inclined towards a strategic-oriented or market-oriented approach to energy policy in the formulation of their respective energy policy. Answering this research question aimed at better understanding the approach of individual state actors to large infrastructure projects, such as the construction of the Central Asia-China Gas Pipeline. A regional energy security complex of Central Asia was constructed for work purposes. In addition to the five Central Asian states, it also includes Russia and China as two major natural gas importers from the region. Based on theoretical literature, a model for assessing the natural gas sector in terms of the formulation of energy policy by individual state actors was developed. This model was subsequently applied to three case studies of key state actors within the Central Asian regional energy security complex. These are case studies on Turkmenistan, Russia and China. Applying the model's criteria to individual cases, the research concluded that for all three players in the Central Asian regional energy security complex, a...
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Personalism Theory in Foreign Policy. Case of Turkmenistan relations towards Afghanistan under the president Berdimuhamedow
Čechová, Diana ; Horák, Slavomír (advisor) ; Šír, Jan (referee)
This work focuses on the adaptation of personalism to foreign policy, which is analysed on a case study of foreign policy of Turkmenistan towards Afghanistan under president Berdimuhamedow's rule. The adaptation is based on the deduction from the basic attributes of personalism, which were obtained through the synthesis of the theories of neopatrimonialism, personalism and patronal presidentialism. The main characteristic of foreign policy of personalist regimes is the leader's undivided power over it, which can be observed on the fact that foreign policy follows and supports the leader's internal policies and goals. The adaptation of personalism to foreign policy making and these characteristics are confirmed by Turkmenistan's foreign policy towards Afghanistan, in which Berdimuhamedow plays a key role. The main foreign policy objective in the political sphere is to maintain friendly relations with both the Afghan government and the Taliban to avoid potential spill over of the Afghan conflict into Turkmenistan, which could undermine Berdimuhamedow's power and patron- client network. The foreign trade policy aims to diversify the Turkmen exports, to loosen dependency on traditional partners and raise money to sustain the regime and president's client network. Concerning the security issues, there...
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Geopolitical Rivalry in Central Asia and Turkmenistan's power as a weak state
Welsink, Emma ; Šír, Jan (advisor) ; Horák, Slavomír (referee)
Thesis abstract: Geopolitical Rivalry in Central Asia and Turkmenistan's power as a weak state Charles University, Institute of International Studies, MAS programme 2019 Emma Welsink English Abstract Research on weak states and their position in the international system has been a widely discussed topic for decades, especially in relation to the Cold War bipolar system that revolved around Russia and the United States as great powers. Yet what is lacking is a contemporary analysis that concentrates on the current multipolar system in which the importance of economic alliances and power surpass military power, and how this affects weak states' foreign policy behavior and trade opportunities. This research therefore offers an empirical analysis on great power geopolitical competition between Russia and China over Turkmenistan's economic allegiance, specifically regarding its natural gas export, and seeks to explain how this geopolitical competition has affected Turkmenistan's foreign energy policy behavior as a weak state vis-á-vis these great powers. Additionally, this research seeks to examine how Turkmenistan has even instrumentalized this competition to further its national interest of energy export diversification. More specifically, this research shows that great power competition has played a...
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Central Asian Foreign Fighters in Syria
Nováková, Sabina ; Bureš, Oldřich (advisor) ; Záhora, Jakub (referee)
This thesis deals with the phenomenon of Central Asian foreign fighters in Syria, 2011- 2017. It analyzes their radicalization, recruitment, and travel patterns. Special emphasis is placed on tracking the home states' responses, including elements of de-radicalization and counter-radicalization. The thesis has found that there is arguably no single factor explaining the Central Asian fighters' radicalization; nor is there a typical profile of a Central Asian fighter. Available data suggest that radicalization and extremist recruitment most often occur in Russia. Furthermore, the analysis of travel patterns has shown that the majority of Central Asian fighters traveled to Syria either indirectly via multiple countries (again, most often Russia) or directly from their country of origin, and then crossed the border from Turkey. The thesis concludes that all five Central Asian states have adopted policies to address the perceived security threat of returning foreign fighters, whereas the hard, restrictive and punitive approach has been prevalent all across the region.
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Afghanistan in the 'Turning Year' 2014 and Concerns of Surrounding States.
Feistinger, Aleš ; Horák, Slavomír (advisor) ; Aslan, Emil (referee)
This research paper focuses on "abrupt changes" in Afghanistan during 2014. It argues that very important changes in one states policy should affect also approach of other countries. First, it inspects the two major events - the presidential election and the signing of both Bilateral Strategic Agreement and Agreement on Status of Military forces with NATO. The study is not only describing those issues, but also outlines the possible effect and signals for other countries. The paper then concludes the state of Afghanistan by the end of 2014. In second part, the study explores the major changes in foreign cooperation of neighboring countries and regional key players with Afghanistan. The study monitors long-term trends in their cooperation with Afghanistan and focuses also on security issues. The more these trends have changed, the more the Afghan events affected international relations.
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Arts and Crafts of Central Asia on the Example of the Náprstek's Museum Colection
Hejzlarová, Tereza ; Pargač, Jan (advisor) ; Nováková, Hana (referee) ; Kokaisl, Petr (referee)
The Central-Asian region, in current geo-political signification understood as the territory of five Post-Soviet states: Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and partially of Kazakhstan, has went through a very rich and colorful historical development. During this development it has absorbed many different culture impulses and influences that helped the region to develop conditions for the formation of a distinctive artistic expression. To a certain extent, we can observe continuity in the development of traditional arts and crafts professions since early historical times until today. Among the most important craft branches we need to mention textile production, involving carpet weaving, processing of felt, fabrics and embroideries, and also artistic metal processing represented particularly by the jewelry production and last but not least, ceramics production. Arts and crafts have always had a very important position in the history and culture of Central Asia. Craftwork has been a subject of trade for a very long time period here, this fact being enhanced by the geographical position as well, since the region is situated on the route of the famous Silk Road. Arts and craft production, which comprised of common goods but also exclusive products of high artistic value, intended for the...
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The Impact of State on The Transformation of Balochi Culture in the Turkmenistan and the Historical Balochistan
Kokaislová, Pavla ; Pargač, Jan (advisor) ; Hejzlarová, Tereza (referee) ; Pospíšilová, Dagmar (referee)
The aims of the study are to explore and compare the Balochs' way of life as an ethnic minority in Turkmenistan and north-eastern Iran and as an indigenous population in Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan since the early 20th century and to study cultural change in the Balochs in the context of state intervention. The ethnogensis of the Balochs as a nomadic Indo-Iranian ethnic group without their own state was shaped by many external and internal influences. The most fundamental are changes in the political organization of states which the Balochs experienced throughout history. Due to poor living conditions, disruption of their original way of life and the need to ensure land and pasture for cattle, some Balochs living in historic Sistan along what is now the Turkmen-Iranian border migrated to Turkmenistan and to north-eastern Iran in the early 20th century. This thesis compares the Balochs' current way of life and with that after their arrival in new territory and examines the cultural transformation of these two groups in the context of state intervention. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
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Personality Cult in Turkmenistan 1991-2006
Purkertová, Eliška ; Šír, Jan (advisor) ; Horák, Slavomír (referee)
This case study discusses the role of Turkmen president Saparmurat Turkmenbashi's personality cult as a part of Turkmen totalitarian ideology. The work's scope is restricted by a time period beginning with the country's declaration of independence in 1991 and ending by president's death in 2006. The work analyses the manner the personality cult served the president to keep his power. It builds upon a thesis that personality cult is a defining feature of Turkmen totalitarianism. Using empirical analysis, the author attempts to analyze the effects of the personality cult on the society and daily life in Turkmenistan and tries to clarify the mechanisms of political power and the position of the personality cult within the regime. The cult marks many aspects of daily life in Turkmenistan - politics, society, architecture, culture, media and even the schooling system and history interpretation.
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