Introduction: Building the Nation: Legacies and Challenges for Timor-Leste

Sue Ingram, Lia Kent, Andrew McWilliam

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

    Abstract

    Following the turmoil and destruction in the wake of the 1999 popular referendum, the half-island territory of Timor-Leste emerged as the first newly independent sovereign state of the 21st century. Its democratic credentials established, the country has become a poster state for managing internal conflict and demonstrating strong policy leadership both domestically and internationally. Its windfall oil revenues from the Timor Sea have provided much-needed funding for critical infrastructure and important social transfers for pensioners, the disabled and veterans of the independence struggle. At the same time, the still very significant challenges of nation-building, of developing capable statecraft and participatory democracy mean that Timor-Leste remains a work in progress—one where popular expectations are often frustrated by the incremental pace of progress. The chapters that follow do not attempt to present a straightforward or unified narrative of these developments. Rather, they serve to highlight the richness of public debate and the diversity of views that exists on Timor-Leste’s achievements, frictions and challenges.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationA New Era? Timor-Leste after the UN
    EditorsSue Ingram, Lia Kent and Andrew McWilliam
    Place of PublicationCanberra
    PublisherANU Press
    Pages1-14
    Volume1
    Edition1
    ISBN (Print)9781925022506
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2015

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Introduction: Building the Nation: Legacies and Challenges for Timor-Leste'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this