Turkmenistan has been often called the North Korea of Central Asia. With an over-the-top cult of personality, heavy censorship, extreme secrecy and a legacy that extends back to the Soviet Union, the comparisons are abundant. 

As Turkmenistan enters a new stage of dynastic succession this year with the “election” of leader Serdar Berdymukhamedov, it’s worth examining how these two illiberal states compare, what their relationship is, and what it may look like in the coming years under the two relatively young leaders.

While Serdar has not yet embraced the excesses of his father, his grip on power remains nonetheless absolute.