You\’re part of the elite governing an authoritarian regime. The regime’s titular leader is ailing, possibly on death’s door. Who’s going to succeed him is an open question. What’s a regime to do?
This question was raised recently when the fate of Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov was shrouded in rumor, confusion, and official obfuscation. The fevered speculation of his death was put to rest on August 12 when he appeared as the host of the Caspian Economic Forum and met with several government leaders.
