Government in exile

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A government in exile is a political group that claims to be a country's legitimate government, but for various reasons is unable to exercise its legal power, and instead resides in a foreign country. Governments in exile usually operate under the assumption that they will one day return to their native country and regain power.

Governments in exile frequently occur during wartime occupation. For example, during the German expansion of the Second World War, numerous European governments and monarchs were forced to seek refuge in the United Kingdom, rather than face certain destruction at the hands of the Nazis.

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[edit] Current governments in exile

Governments in exile often have little or no recognition from other powers. Governments in exile currently include:

[edit] Actions of governments in exile

International law recognizes that governments in exile may undertake many types of actions in the conduct of their daily affairs. These actions include:

  • becoming a party to a bilateral or international treaty
  • amending or revising its own constitution
  • maintaining military forces
  • retaining (or "newly obtaining") diplomatic recognition by sovereign states
  • issuing identity cards
  • allowing the formation of new political parties
  • instituting democratic reforms
  • holding elections
  • allowing for direct (or more broadly-based) elections of its government officers, etc.

However, none of these actions can serve to legitimatize a government in exile to become the internationally recognized legal government of its current locality. By definition, a government in exile is spoken of in terms of its native country, hence it must return to its native country and regain power there in order to obtain legitimacy as the legal government of that geographic area.

[edit] Past governments in exile

[edit] World War II and Cold war

Many countries established a government in exile after loss of sovereignty in connection with World War II:

The Provisional Government of Free India (1942-1945) was established by Indian nationalists in exile during the war.

Other exiled leaders in England included King Zog of Albania and Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia.

Notable examples of occupied countries which retained partial sovereignty through their overseas territories included Belgium, Vichy France and Free France.

[edit] The Danish exception

Denmark's occupation (9 April, 1940) was administered by the German Foreign Office, contrary to other occupied lands that were under military administration. Denmark did not establish a government in exile, although there was an Association of Free Danes established in London. The King and his government remained in Denmark, and functioned comparatively independently for the first three years of German occupation. Meanwhile, Iceland and the Faroe Islands were occupied by the Allies, and effectively separated from the Danish crown. (See British occupation of the Faroe Islands)

[edit] See also

[edit] References

This article does not cite any references or sources. (August 2007)
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de:Exilregierung

es:Gobierno en el exilio fr:Gouvernement en exil zh-classical:流亡政府 it:Governo in esilio he:ממשלה גולה ja:亡命政府 pt:Governo no exílio simple:Government-in-exile fi:Pakolaishallitus sv:Exilregering zh:流亡政府

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