The stable state of Turkmenistan died along with its bizarre ruler Saparmurat Niyazov. He knew his people. The world saw him as an insane narcissist, but Niyazov’s policies conformed to the local mentality. Turkmens proudly speak of his statue covered in gold that turns to follow the sun. The movie Borat is not far off target: Central Asians are visibly less civilized than the Westerners.

Niyazov annihilated the opposition, disregarded liberalism, democracy, and the rule of law. He appropriated much, perhaps most, of the country’s oil and gas revenues. On the positive side, Turkmenistan was safe.

Now America will push for democratization. Turkmeni progressives will achieve quasi-free elections and eventually lose to Islamists. Alternatively, Moscow could install another tribal despot, and the US would lure him with more money.

Turkmenistan is a test case for leftists. According to their views, international corporations will now bankroll this or that clan to obtain huge oil and gas concessions. That won’t happen. The least princeling exercises more power in his country than does the largest foreign corporation. Commercial wars were common in the past and might reappeare in the future, but now corporate military influence is limited to small-time financing of rival factions and lobbying for army contracts. For all the profits Turkmenistan offers, Western corporations won’t try to prevent it from slipping into democracy.