Political exile is the situation in which a group of individuals claims to be a State’s legitimate governing body but lives abroad and does not have formal control over its territory. Such governments-in-exile tend to occur when a warring state is occupied by an enemy or following a revolution, civil war, or military coup. Governments-in-exile are often able to perform various state functions while they operate in exile and plan to regain control of their territory someday. An example of a government-in-exile is the Provisional Government of Free India established by Subhas Chandra Bose during World War II. Other examples include the Estonian Provisional Government loyal to Otto Tief in Helsinki, and the government of Charles de Gaulle in Sigmaringen enclave.
While the number of governments-in-exile has decreased since the advent of modern nation states, the phenomenon still exists in State practice. For instance, American immigration law explicitly bans anyone who seeks to enter the country in order to engage in “any activity a purpose of which is to oppose or overthrow” the government.
Individuals can also experience political exile, such as Napoleon, who was banished from France to the remote Southern Atlantic island of St. Helena. In addition, religious leaders have been sent into exile, such as the prophet Mohammed and Baha’ullah, founder of the Baha’i Faith. The latter was sent into exile on numerous occasions after threats to his life. Generally speaking, though, the majority of political exiles are governments-in-exile.
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