Imagine this. The head of state of one of the largest western nations loses the support of his army, parliament and vice-president. His country’s economy deteriorates and the value of the national currency almost halves in his twenty-one months in office. Key International Monetary Fund (IMF) restructuring loans are suspended and riots break out on the streets when both the IMF and the World Bank insist on the ending of expensive fuel subsidies.
Meanwhile, restive provinces in the state’s outer periphery seize the opportunity to press home demands for independence as large foreign companies temporarily withdraw from the vital oil and gas, and mining sectors. Even in the state’s inner core, there are threats of secession by the country’s second most populous region. Impeachment proceedings are embarked on as a popular poll reveals that under two percent of the country feel the head of state is doing a good job.
