Governments-in-Exile: Sovereignty Without Territory?

The article studies the emergence and evolution of governments-in-exile. The Westphalian world order, which has been established globally, dictates the a priori territorial nature of the state per se. The government apparatus, as an element of the state, is also a priori territorial. However, governments-in-exile represent an exception to this territoriality, as they claim to possess sovereignty. A deeper study of governments-in-exile could provide a more complete understanding of the link between sovereignty and territory. The authors analyze the causes behind the emergence of governments-in-exile, as well as their functions in a historical context. A total of 44 cases of governments-in-exile are examined. The authors identify the following as defining features of such governments: being located abroad, aiming to return to their homeland, and claiming sovereignty over a declared territory. In the historical context, the phenomenon is studied according to the following parameters: connection to the territory of origin, access to the proclaimed territory, presence of competing exile projects, dependence on armed conflicts for emergence, duration of existence, and degree of success – understood as the ability to return from exile. The article concludes that governments-in-exile constitute a distinct phenomenon in international relations. Functionally, such governments share certain similarities with opposition parties operating from abroad. However, their claim to exclusive sovereignty over a specific territory distinguishes them from opposition parties. This sovereignty is intersubjective, meaning that the success of such structures largely depends on the expansion of their intersubjective recognition.Â