Defection

Inpolitics,adefectoris a person who gives upallegianceto one state in exchange for allegiance to another, changing sides in a way which is considered illegitimate by the first state.^[1]More broadly,defectioninvolves abandoning a person, cause, or doctrine to which one is bound by some tie, as of allegiance or duty.^[2]^[3]

This term is also applied, often pejoratively, to anyone who switches loyalty to anotherreligion,sports team,political party,or other rival faction. In that sense, the defector is often considered atraitorby their original side.^[4]^[5]

International politics[edit]

The physical act of defection is usually in a manner which violates the laws of the nation or political entity from which the person is seeking to depart. By contrast, mere changes incitizenship,or working with allied militia, usually do not violate any law(s).

For example, in the 1950s,East Germanswere increasingly prohibited from traveling to the westernFederal Republic of Germanywhere they were automatically regarded as citizens according toExclusive mandate.TheBerlin Wall(1961) and fortifications along theInner German border(1952 onward) were erected by the CommunistGerman Democratic Republicto enforce the policy. When people tried to "defect" from the GDR they were to be shot on sight. Several hundred peoplewere killed along that borderin theirRepublikfluchtattempt. Official crossings did exist, but permissions to leave temporarily or permanently were seldom granted. On the other hand, the GDR citizenship of some "inconvenient" East Germans was revoked, and they had to leave their home on short notice against their will. Others, like singerWolf Biermann,were prohibited from returning to the GDR.

During theCold War,the many people illegally emigrating from theSoviet UnionorEastern Bloctothe Westwere called defectors. Westerners defected to the Eastern Bloc as well, often to avoid prosecution as spies. Some of the more famous cases were British spyKim Philby,who defected to the USSR to avoid exposure as aKGBmole, and22 Allied POWs(one Briton and twenty-one Americans) who declined repatriation after theKorean War,electing to remain in China.

When the individual leaves his country and provides information to a foreign intelligence service, they are aHUMINT source defector.In some cases, defectors remain in the country or with the political entity they were against, functioning as adefector in place.Intelligence services are always concerned when debriefing defectors with the possibility of afake defection.

Entire militaries can defect and choose not to follow orders from a state's leaders. During theArab Springprotests, militaries in Egypt and Tunisia refused orders to fire upon protesters or use other methods to disperse them.^[6]^[7]The decision to defect can be driven by the desire to prevent insubordination: if a military leader judges that lower officers will disobey orders to fire upon protesters, they could be more likely to defect.^[6]

Notable defectors[edit]

Artists[edit]

Paquito D'Rivera,Cuban saxophonist and clarinetist, who defected to the United States in 1980.
Mikhail Baryshnikov,Soviet(Russian) dancer, who defected toCanadain 1974, while inToronto,touring with theKirov Ballet.^[8]He later moved to theUnited States.
Natalia Makarova,Soviet (Russian) dancer, who defected while in London in 1970.
Georgi Markov,Bulgarian author, who defected in 1968, eventually settling in London, England, later assassinated.
Rudolf Nureyev,Soviet (Russian) dancer, who defected while inParistouring with theKirov Balletin 1961.^[9]
George Balanchine,Georgianchoreographer,who defected to theWeimar Republicin 1924.
Arturo Sandoval,Cuban trumpeter, pianist, and composer, who defected to the United States in 1990.
Jan Sobota,Czech fine bookbinder, who defected to Switzerland in 1982, and settled in the United States in 1984.

Athletes[edit]

Guillermo Rigondeaux,Cubanprofessional boxer,who defected to the United States in 2009.
Aroldis Chapman,Cubanbaseball pitcher,who defected to Andorra in 2009 before signing aMajor League Baseballcontract in 2010.
José Fernández,Cubanbaseball player,who defected to the United States in 2008.
Lutz Eigendorf,an East Germanfootball playerforBFC Dynamowho defected toWest Germanyin 1979.
Orlando Hernandez,Cubanbaseball pitcher,who defected to the United States in 1997.
Nadia Comăneci,Romanian Olympic gymnast, who defected to the United States in 1989.
Martina Navratilova,Czechoslovak tennis player, who defected to the United States in 1975.^[10]
Alexander Mogilny,Soviet (Russian)ice hockeyforward, who defected to the United States in 1988. He was the first Soviet player to defect to play in theNHL.
Béla Károlyiand his wifeMárta Károlyi,Romanian gymnasticscoaches (ofNadia ComăneciandMary Lou Rettonamong others), who defected to the United States in 1981.
Osvaldo Alonso,Cubansoccer player,who defected to the United States in 2007.
José Abreu,Cuban baseball player, who defected to the United States in 2013.
Kimia Alizadeh,Iraniantaekwondo martial artist,who defected to the Netherlands in 2020.
César Prieto,Cuban baseball player, who defected to the United States in 2021.
Krystsina Tsimanouskaya,Belarus sprinter, who defected to Poland in 2021.^[11]

Military[edit]

Larry Allen Abshier,the first of six American soldiers to defect to North Korea between the years 1962–1982. He died in 1983 from a heart attack while residing inPyongyang.
Benedict Arnold‚ a colonial general who during theAmerican Revolutionary Wardefected to theBritish Army.
Riad al-Asaad,founder of theFree Syrian Armyand the entire Tlass Family during theSyrian civil war.
Viktor Belenko,aSoviet Air Forcelieutenant who flew a MiG-25 fighter to Japan in 1976 and gainedpolitical asylumin the United States.^[12]
James Joseph Dresnok,aUS Armyprivate who defected toNorth Koreaby sneaking across the Demilitarized Zone in 1962. He would live the remainder of his life in the DPRK until his death in 2016.
Igor Gouzenko,a Sovietcipherclerk who defected to Canada and released information regarding Soviet espionage activities in western society. Credited as one of the triggering factors for the beginning of the Cold War.
No Kum-Sok(later Kenneth Rowe) is known for having been alieutenantin theNorth Korean Air Forceduring theKorean Warwho defected toSouth Korea.On September 21, 1953, he flew hisMiG-15to theKimpo Air Basein South Korea, claiming that he wanted to get away from the "red deceit" and is often associated withOperation Moolah.^[13]
Maxim Kuzminov[ru],former Russian military pilot-navigator of the Mi-8AMTSh military transport helicopter. During the Russian-Ukrainian War, on August 9, 2023, he flew across the front line to the Ukrainian side as part of the specialOperation Synytsia,prepared by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry.^[14]
Genrikh Lyushkov,theNKVDchief in theRussian Far East,defected toManchukuoin 1938 under theGreat Purgeand then cooperated with theImperial Japanese Army.
Ivan Mazepa,Ukrainian Hetman of Zaporizhian Hostfrom 1687–1708 who defected from theRussian Empireto theSwedish Empireduring theBattle of Poltavaof theGreat Northern War.
Lee Harvey Oswald,the laterassassin of President John F. Kennedyhad claimed defection to theSoviet Unionin October 1959 but was ultimately refused citizenship and returned to the United States in 1962.
Ion Mihai Pacepa,aRomanian Securitategeneral who defected to the United States from theSocialist Republic of Romaniain 1978.
Matiur Rahman,a Pakistani/Bangladeshi pilot who in 1971 attempted to defect with a T-33 along with confidential Pakistani war plans to India to join theBangladesh Liberation War.However his plan was foiled by Flt.LtRashid Minhaswho crashed the plane after a brief struggle for control over the aircraft. The plane crashed some 50 Kilometres from the border.^[15]
Leamsy Salazar,formerlieutenant colonelofBolivarian Navy of Venezuelaand head ofsecurity detailforHugo Chávez,defected to United States in December 2014.
Heng Samrin,a top-brass military figure inDemocratic Kampucheadefected toVietnamduring theKhmer Rougepurges of the Eastern Zone after considering the fate ofSo Phim,his superior in command.^[16]
Travis King,a US Army private who defected to North Korea, possibly to avoid facing a dishonorable discharge and legal charges, in 2023. North Korea would later return him to American custody.

Politics[edit]

Guy Burgess,British diplomat and member of theCambridge Five,defected to the Soviet Union in 1951.
Donald Maclean,British diplomat and member of the Cambridge Five, defected to the Soviet Union in 1951.
Kim Philby,British intelligence officer and member of the Cambridge Five, defected to the Soviet Union in 1963.
Viktor Suvorov(born 1947), Russian writer and former Soviet military intelligence officer who defected to the United Kingdom in 1978.
Thae Yong-ho,a formerNorth Koreandiplomat for Britain. At an unknown date Thae defected from North Korea for his family, because he "didn't want his children, who were used to life of freedom, to suffer life of oppression". Being one of North Korea's elite, for the nation he was the highest profile defection since No Kum-sok (above) in 1953. He was elected to theSouth Korean National Assemblyin2020for theUnited Future Party,representing the Gangnam A district ofSeoul.^{[citation needed]}
Vladimir Petrov- Soviet diplomat who defected to Australia in 1954.^[17]^[18]^[19]

Others[edit]

Viktor Korchnoi,Russian chess Grandmaster, defected in Amsterdam in 1976.
Walter Polovchak,minor, defected to the United States in 1980 at 12. He and his parents moved to the United States fromSoviet Ukrainein 1980 but later that year his parents decided to move back to Ukraine. He did not wish to return with them and was the subject of a five-year struggle to stay permanently. He won the right to permanent sanctuary in 1985 upon turning 18.
The crew ofoil tanker Tuapse,held hostage in 1954 by the government ofTaiwanduring theWhite Terror.An unusual case of forced defection, where the crew were forced to defect to the United States to secure their release. Those who refused were subjected to various forms of torture, while those who subsequently retracted their defection and returned to the Soviet Union were sentenced for treason but later pardoned. All surviving crew were released in 1988.
Vaas Feniks Nokard[ja],in order to defect from Russia in 2021, swam fromKunashir IslandtoHokkaido,a distance of about 20 kilometers, in 23 hours.^[20]
Yeonmi Parkis aNorth Korean defectorand activist whose family fled from North Korea to China in 2007

References[edit]

^"Definition of DEFECTOR".merriam-webster.Archivedfrom the original on 2015-02-26.
^"Defection | Define Defection at Dictionary".Archivedfrom the original on 2011-04-03.Retrieved2011-03-22."de·fec·tion [dih-fek-shuhn]noun(1.) desertion from allegiance, loyalty, duty, or the like; apostasy: His defection to East Germany was regarded as treasonable. (2.) failure; lack; loss: He was overcome by a sudden defection of courage. "Retrieved 22MARCH2011.
^"Defector | Define Defector at Dictionary".Archivedfrom the original on 2011-04-05.Retrieved2011-03-22."de·fec·tor [dih-fek-ter]–nouna person who defects from a cause, country, alliance, etc. Origin: 1655–65; < Latin dēfector renegade, rebel, equivalent to dēfec- (variant stem of dēficere to become disaffected, revolt, literally, to fail; see defect) + -tor -tor "Retrieved 22MARCH2011.
^"defector",The Free Dictionary,archivedfrom the original on 2019-08-27,retrieved2023-01-18
^"defector1660s, agent noun in Latin form from defect, or else from L. defector "revolter," agent noun from deficere (see deficient). "Retrieved 22MARCH2011.Archived2011-07-28 at theWayback Machine
^^a ^bBrooks, Risa A. (2019-05-11)."Integrating the Civil–Military Relations Subfield".Annual Review of Political Science.22(1): 379–398.doi:10.1146/annurev-polisci-060518-025407.ISSN 1094-2939.
^Grewal, Sharan (2019-06-01)."Military Defection During Localized Protests: The Case of Tataouine".International Studies Quarterly.63(2): 259–269.doi:10.1093/isq/sqz003.ISSN 0020-8833.
^"1974: Mikhail Baryshnikov defects from the Soviet Union - CBC Archives".cbc.ca.Archivedfrom the original on 2015-09-23.
^Bridcut, John (16 September 2007)."The KGB's long war against Rudolf Nureyev".Telegraph.co.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 2016-03-22.Retrieved2016-03-03.
^Tignor, Steve (May 7, 2015)."1975: Martina Navratilova defects to U.S. while playing the U.S. Open".Tennis.RetrievedJune 10,2024.
^"The plight of Krystsina Tsimanouskaya shows what a pariah Belarus now is | Mary Dejevsky".Independent.co.uk.2 August 2021.
^Dowling, StephenThe Pilot Who Stole A Secret Soviet Fighter Jet September 5, 2016 ArchivedFebruary 18, 2017, at theWayback MachineBBCRetrieved August 24, 2017
^"Factsheets: Story of the MiG-15 Archived2013-09-22 at theWayback Machine."National Museum of the United States Air Force.
^"'Let's give it a try,' recalls Russian pilot who defected to Ukraine in his military helicopter ".4 September 2023.
^"Pakistan Army".^{[permanent dead link]}
^Professor Ben Kiernan (2008).The Pol Pot Regime: Race, Power, and Genocide in Cambodia Under the Khmer Rouge, 1975-79.Yale University Press.ISBN 978-0-300-14434-5.
^"Mrs Petrov's death brings bizarre affair to end".27 July 2002.Archivedfrom the original on 29 November 2018.Retrieved20 March2022.
^"Obituary: Evdokia Petrov".TheGuardian.27 July 2002.Archivedfrom the original on 29 November 2018.Retrieved20 March2022.
^"Spies who loved us".27 July 2002.Archivedfrom the original on 24 August 2018.Retrieved20 March2022.
^【テレビ sơ thông báo 】なぜ bỉ は quốc sau đảo から vịnh いできたのか thoát ra のきっかけ “Không thoải mái な ra tới sự” とは… すべてを ngữ る,retrieved2022-11-03

External links[edit]

Famous Defectors Archived2010-07-18 at theWayback Machine- slideshow byLife magazine

[1] "Definition of DEFECTOR".merriam-webster.Archivedfrom the original on 2015-02-26.

[2] "Defection | Define Defection at Dictionary".Archivedfrom the original on 2011-04-03.Retrieved2011-03-22."de·fec·tion [dih-fek-shuhn]noun(1.) desertion from allegiance, loyalty, duty, or the like; apostasy: His defection to East Germany was regarded as treasonable. (2.) failure; lack; loss: He was overcome by a sudden defection of courage. "Retrieved 22MARCH2011.

[3] "Defector | Define Defector at Dictionary".Archivedfrom the original on 2011-04-05.Retrieved2011-03-22."de·fec·tor [dih-fek-ter]–nouna person who defects from a cause, country, alliance, etc. Origin: 1655–65; < Latin dēfector renegade, rebel, equivalent to dēfec- (variant stem of dēficere to become disaffected, revolt, literally, to fail; see defect) + -tor -tor "Retrieved 22MARCH2011.

[4] "defector",The Free Dictionary,archivedfrom the original on 2019-08-27,retrieved2023-01-18

[5] "defector1660s, agent noun in Latin form from defect, or else from L. defector "revolter," agent noun from deficere (see deficient). "Retrieved 22MARCH2011.Archived2011-07-28 at theWayback Machine

[:0-6] Brooks, Risa A. (2019-05-11)."Integrating the Civil–Military Relations Subfield".Annual Review of Political Science.22(1): 379–398.doi:10.1146/annurev-polisci-060518-025407.ISSN 1094-2939.

[7] Grewal, Sharan (2019-06-01)."Military Defection During Localized Protests: The Case of Tataouine".International Studies Quarterly.63(2): 259–269.doi:10.1093/isq/sqz003.ISSN 0020-8833.

[8] "1974: Mikhail Baryshnikov defects from the Soviet Union - CBC Archives".cbc.ca.Archivedfrom the original on 2015-09-23.

[9] Bridcut, John (16 September 2007)."The KGB's long war against Rudolf Nureyev".Telegraph.co.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 2016-03-22.Retrieved2016-03-03.

[10] Tignor, Steve (May 7, 2015)."1975: Martina Navratilova defects to U.S. while playing the U.S. Open".Tennis.RetrievedJune 10,2024.

[11] "The plight of Krystsina Tsimanouskaya shows what a pariah Belarus now is | Mary Dejevsky".Independent.co.uk.2 August 2021.

[12] Dowling, StephenThe Pilot Who Stole A Secret Soviet Fighter Jet September 5, 2016 ArchivedFebruary 18, 2017, at theWayback MachineBBCRetrieved August 24, 2017

[nmusaf-13] "Factsheets: Story of the MiG-15 Archived2013-09-22 at theWayback Machine."National Museum of the United States Air Force.

[14] "'Let's give it a try,' recalls Russian pilot who defected to Ukraine in his military helicopter ".4 September 2023.

[15] "Pakistan Army".^{[permanent dead link]}

[16] Professor Ben Kiernan (2008).The Pol Pot Regime: Race, Power, and Genocide in Cambodia Under the Khmer Rouge, 1975-79.Yale University Press.ISBN 978-0-300-14434-5.

[17] "Mrs Petrov's death brings bizarre affair to end".27 July 2002.Archivedfrom the original on 29 November 2018.Retrieved20 March2022.

[18] "Obituary: Evdokia Petrov".TheGuardian.27 July 2002.Archivedfrom the original on 29 November 2018.Retrieved20 March2022.

[19] "Spies who loved us".27 July 2002.Archivedfrom the original on 24 August 2018.Retrieved20 March2022.

[20] 【テレビ sơ thông báo 】なぜ bỉ は quốc sau đảo から vịnh いできたのか thoát ra のきっかけ “Không thoải mái な ra tới sự” とは… すべてを ngữ る,retrieved2022-11-03

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