Exile is the state or condition of being forced to leave one's native country or home, often by authoritative decree, and being prohibited from returning. It can also refer to a voluntary absence from one's country, typically due to fear, resentment, or other reasons. A person who experiences exile is called an exile. Exile can be both a punishment or a self-imposed condition and often involves living in a foreign country separated from one's homeland and friends. It can also occur internally within a country, where a person is banished to a distant place away from home. Exile has historical, political, and social dimensions, including the exile of entire nations or groups, sometimes called a diaspora.
Types of Exile
- Forced exile (banishment): Usually by government or authority as punishment or political repression.
- Voluntary exile: Self-imposed absence often for protest or to avoid persecution.
- Internal exile: Restricted to living far from one's home but within the same country.
- Nation or group exile: Large populations or governments displaced from their homeland.
Historical and Social Contexts
- Many historical figures and populations have experienced exile, such as political leaders, dissidents, and entire ethnic groups.
- Exile can serve as a form of punishment, survival, political protest, or a result of conflict and persecution.
- The concept includes not just individuals but also entire communities or governments living outside their geographic homeland.
In essence, exile means a forced or voluntary separation from one’s homeland.
