The Mechanism
This chapter presents evidence on patterns of exile through a large dataset of political leaders and measure of leader culpability for mass atrocities. It explains why the decision to flee into exile is conditional on whether leaders can expect to face post-tenure international punishment. It also points out how culpable leaders were more likely to flee abroad than nonculpable leaders in the impunity era. The chapter provides statistical analysis with a case study of Liberia's Charles Taylor, who is one of the few culpable leaders to go into exile in the accountability era. It elaborates how the Taylor case study clarifies why some leaders still choose exile and confirms whether culpable leaders who go into exile in the accountability era actually get punished.