2.2 - Turkmenistan

Question 1

Freedom house score?

Answer 1

2/100

Question 2

What’s its main export?

Answer 2

Cotton

Question 3

What type of economy?

Answer 3

State-controlled/command

Question 4

What human rights does Turkmenistan abuse?

Answer 4

• Free from slavery
• Safe working conditions

Question 5

How do they violate human rights?

Answer 5

• Teachers, doctors, dentists are forced to fill up cotton quotas (1 million tonnes a year) - forced to stop duties and go to cotton fields - children starting to take their place
• 2 months a year during harvest season

Gov prioritising economic development over HR

Question 6

Why do Turkmenistan prioritise EG over HR?

Answer 6

• Meeting high demand from West for cheaper clothing
• Diversifying economy to not rely on oil exports
• Country might be able to afford transport infrastructure to connect it to Gulf countries + China’s One Belt One Road strategy
• Can keep 40% country employed while tackling other development issues

Question 7

How does Uzbekistan prove that change is possible?

Answer 7

• Had same issues but then over 300 brands boycotted Uzbekistan cotton e.g. H&M + fall in aid = incentivised reform to cotton industry = long term economic growth bc more sustainable