Political exile is a situation in which a person, group or organization has been barred from returning to a sovereign state. In many cases this is due to war, coup d’etat or a natural disaster. In some cases, this is voluntary, and in other cases it is imposed by the state in power. Governments in exile are governments that are located outside of their homeland and claim legitimacy of a territory they once controlled, but do not assert independence as a separate state. These governments are distinct from local de facto regimes, insurgents and national liberation movements. They are also distinguished from those governments that are recognized by a foreign state and can exercise traditional functions of sovereignty. Examples include the Taliban government-in-exile based in Quetta, Pakistan and the Dalai Lama government-in-exile in Dharamsala, India.
Exile can serve as a tool for those who want to maintain their power or challenge established orders. Napoleon’s experience with exile illustrates this, as he was sent to the island of Elba following his abdication and escaped less than a year later in an attempt to reclaim power. This highlights the tumultuous nature of power struggles in Europe and the impact of a changing political landscape on leaders. Research on diasporas and governments in exile is often focused on issues of resettlement or integration into host societies, focusing on sociocultural adaptation and identity formation as a way to analyze this process. However, such studies can be enhanced by a focus on exile culture and how it represents dynamic forms of nationhood.