Bashar al-Assad’s flight to Moscow has brought a mix of intrigue and uncertainty. As the former Syrian president settles into his new life abroad, what can we expect from him? Drawing on the experiences of other exiled dictators, it becomes clear that life in exile is far from glamorous.
While some rulers manage to maintain their power structures while living in safety, others become “ordinary” once they’re forced to leave their home country. This phenomenon was observed with Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, who, after fleeing Saudi Arabia, became a comfortable but irrelevant figure. The psychological impact of such a transition is significant, and it’s clear that Assad will face similar challenges.
The allure of retirement in prosperous democracies during the Cold War era still applies to some exiled leaders, like Ferdinand Marcos. However, this comes at a steep cost: Americans unwittingly helped Marcos plunder his country’s wealth. Similarly, Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier struggled to maintain his lavish lifestyle while living in France.
For many exiled dictators, finding ways to keep their ill-gotten gains becomes an insurmountable challenge. Without access to their home countries’ resources, they’re forced to rely on dubious means to survive. In Duvalier’s case, even expensive assets like a villa and speedboats couldn’t save him from financial ruin.
Assad’s best-case scenario now lies in becoming irrelevance in Moscow’s suburbs, rather than attempting a return to power. However, this outcome is far from guaranteed, as Russian President Vladimir Putin must weigh the costs of keeping Assad alive versus losing a high-profile ally in Damascus. Time will tell how Assad navigates his new life in Russia and whether he’ll manage to escape irrelevance.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/assad-expect-life-political-exile-170000797.html