Many Westerners know more about the cliché of Tibet than about the reality faced by Tibetans in and outside of Tibet. And even when it comes to their freedom movement, most people might believe they know what is going on.

But the political movement to liberate Tibet has been corrupted by routine and personal career management. And still today, after a 50-year effort by the 14th Dalai Lama to bring democracy to the community in exile by installing a parliament and elections, Tibetans in exile struggle with the concept of making political decisions on their own and often still prefer to simply follow their Dalai Lama — with tragic consequences.

—Dirk Simon