Timor Leste

I recommend this insightful comparative analysis of Cambodia and Timor-Leste which examines the tangible contributions UN missions had to promoting peacebuilding and human security.
–-Sukehiro Hasegawa, General Manager of the Electoral Supervisors in Cambodia and Special Representative of Secretary-General for Timor-Leste

The experiences of the Timorese are unique, and this book reflects a broader analysis about how an aid-influenced process of development can work in greater harmony with the people to realize their own visions of the future of the nation.

This book offers a new approach to the extraordinary story of Timor-Leste. The Indonesian invasion of the former Portuguese colony in 1975 was widely considered to have permanently crushed the Timorese independence movement. Initial international condemnation of the invasion was quickly replaced by widespread acceptance of Indonesian sovereignty. But inside Timor-Leste various resistance networks maintained their struggle, against all odds. Twenty-four years later, the Timorese were allowed to choose their political future and the new country of Timor-Leste came into being in 2002. This book presents freedom in Timor-Leste as an accomplishment of networked governance, arguing that weak networks are capable of controlling strong tyrannies.

Timor-Leste has made impressive progress since its historic achievement of independence in 2002. From the instability that blighted its early years, the fledgling democratic country has achieved strong economic growth and a gradual reinstatement of essential social services.

“This book raises a timely question: have we delivered on the promise of independence? 19 years following the hard-earned restoration of independence, this book informs the readers about Timor-Leste’s progress thus far and more importantly outlines the challenges which remain.