The Path of Least Resistance

Turkmenistan, unlike many of its neighbours, has never faced any organized resistance. Through a literature review, a series of interviews, and applying a multi-level framework of analysis on nonviolent resistance, we assessed which factors inhibited the development of nonviolent resistance, and why. The lack of resistance can primarily be explained by the Turkmen policy of pervasive, multi-level isolation. The regime’s policy of positive neutrality and a single-resource economy has insulated the country from destabilizing external influences, while the creation of alternative power structures has been halted through the systematic reshuffling and repression of officials, thereby guaranteeing obedience and preventing threats. This policy fosters fear and mistrust among citizens through harsh punitive measures, instrumentalizing citizens to keep each other in line. Studying Turkmenistan as a negative case of nonviolent resistance suggests that that connectivity is a critical factor in the development of nonviolent resistance.