With the rise of nation-states and the doctrine that ties between state and citizens are indissoluble, political exile is now rare. However, civil wars and revolutions often produce exiles, and some individuals voluntarily choose to live in exile for a variety of reasons: as a form of protest, to avoid taxes or criminal charges, to pursue religious or spiritual goals, or because they believe that their homeland is a dangerous place to be.
A government-in-exile is one that claims to be a country’s legitimate governing body, even though it currently operates from outside the country and has no legal authority there. The most famous example of a government-in-exile is the Tibetan government-in-exile, headed by the Dalai Lama. Other examples include the rump government commanded by Charles de Gaulle in France during World War II, and the client governments established in Europe to serve occupied countries during the conflict.
The study of diasporas provides important insights about modern societies and the complexities of nation, territory, and identity. While the experience of exile may be difficult, it can also inspire creativity and the creation of new cultural forms. For instance, the African or black diaspora has long produced links among global black cultures through travels, writings, music, and films, as well as political ideologies like Afrocentrism and Negritude that link diasporic communities with a sense of a common heritage and history. Moreover, the economic remittances sent by diasporic people back to their homeland reveal another dimension of the complex relationship between home and exile.
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