how a country survives

it's real simple 

the country has an official system 

that is easily corrupted by enemies and unrighteous individuals 

to lure out unrighteous individuals 

and the country has a covert system 

that is difficult to corrupt 

the official government is part of the official system 

the covert leader is part of the covert system 

the official military is part of the official system 

an assassin is part of the covert system 

for a covert system to function 

it needs to be deniable 

the concept is easily understood 

but to make it function in reality could be more difficult 

especially if the adversaries are adept at dark arts