Symbolic Resources of Political Leadership of Turkmenistan | South-Russian Journal of Social Sciences
Symbolic Resources of Political Leadership of Turkmenistan
Vol. 24 (2023) No. 4, Political Institutions and Processes
Vol. 24 (2023) No. 4
Political Institutions and Processes

Symbolic Resources of Political Leadership of Turkmenistan

Kholova L.A.
Astrakhan Tatishchev State University, Center for studying the problems of comprehensive security of the Caspian macroregion and countering terrorism and extremism
ORCID ID 0000-0002-3322-6511
PDF (Russian)
https://doi.org/10.31429/26190567-24-4-71-86
https://doi.org/10.31429/26190567-24-4-71-86

How to Cite Array

Kholova L.A. (2023) Symbolic Resources of Political Leadership of Turkmenistan. South-Russian Journal of Social Sciences, 24 (4), pp. 71-86. DOI: 10.31429/26190567-24-4-71-86 (In Russian)
Submission Date 2023-10-23
Accepted Date 2023-12-10
Published Date 2023-12-29

Copyright (c) 2024 Любовь Александровна Холова

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Abstract

The research article aims to explore the role that symbols of Turkmenistan play in the process of constructing national identity. National symbols, such as flags, official emblems, historical monuments, and cultural symbols, serve as potent instruments in the construction of collective identity and the fostering of a sense of belonging among a country’s citizens. In the case of Turkmenistan, symbols have played a pivotal role since the country’s independence in 1991, as it sought to establish its distinct identity amidst the rapidly evolving socio-­political landscape. This research article employs an analytical approach to examine the role of historical and contemporary symbols in the formation of a unified national identity in Turkmenistan. The article examines the various forms of national symbols, including state symbols, traditional national symbols, state events, and propaganda, in order to ascertain the methods employed by the regime to legitimate itself and to enhance its control over society. The author examines the relationship between symbolism and political power in Turkmenistan, noting the direct dependence of the symbolic tools used on the political figure of the leader of Turkmenistan in the post-­Soviet period. This is particularly evident in Turkmenistan’s efforts to assert its uniqueness in the context of ongoing political and social change. The symbolic resources analyzed in the article are employed to demonstrate the cultural and national consolidation of the population in the context of foreign policy representation. The symbolic resources utilized also facilitate the domestic political process of legitimizing the regime and consolidating control over the titular nation of the state. The study integrates historical research, cultural analysis, and conclusions derived from Murray Edelman’s theory of symbolic politics.

Keywords

political leadership, symbolic politics, political language, national identity, Turkmenistan

Acknowledgements

The research was supported by RSF No. 22-18-00301 “The process of constructing new identities in the Caspian macroregion in the context of societal security”.

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