TIMOR-LESTE IN THE XXI CENTURY: ISSUES AND PROSPECTS
Main Article Content
Abstract
The process of Timor-Leste's independence from Indonesia has not only shaped the dynamics of the XXI century global landscape. Still, it has also been a historical reality influenced by internal and external factors, notably Australian support - a traditional middle power. However, the achievement of Timor-Leste's independence has challenged Australia's relations with Indonesia. Despite being the least developed country in Southeast Asia and grappling with economic struggles, Timor-Leste aspires to overcome these hurdles after 19 years of independence and build a prosperous and robust nation, as outlined in the Timor-Leste Strategic Development Plan extending until 2030. The paper aims to evaluate the issues of Timor-Leste in the twenty-first century, considering geopolitical conditions, post-independence impacts, and issues related to international integration.
Keywords
Timor-Leste, XXI Century, strategic development plan, geopolitics
Article Details
References
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Arisanto, P. T. (2020). Timor Leste’s accession to ASEAN 2011: An analysis of international factors. Dinamika Global: Jurnal Ilmu Hubungan Internasional, 5, 150-170. https://doi.org/10.36859/jdg.v5i02
ASEAN Secretariat (2025). “ASEAN Political-Security Community Blueprint”, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, https://www.asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/ASEAN-APSC-Blueprint-2025.pdf.
Dolven, B., Margesson, R. & Vaughn, B. (July 3, 2012). Timor-Leste: Political Dynamics, Development, and International Involvement. CRS Report for Congress, Congressional Research Service. https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/R/PDF/R42585/R42585.5.pdf.
Fanner, D. & Rourke, A. (August 30, 2019). East Timor independence: a short history of a long and brutal struggle - video. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2019/aug/30/east-timor-independence-a-short-history-of-a-long-and-brutal-struggle-video
Fernandes, H. & Soares, J. (May 25, 2011). Making Timor-Leste’s ASEAN Accession a People-Centric Effort. Forum Haksesuk. https://forum-haksesuk.blogspot.com/2011/05/making-timor-lestes-asean-ascension.html
Geraghty, T. (2019). Built for Extraction: Dependence, Sovereignty and Development in Timor-Leste. The University of Adelaide Department of Anthropology and Development Studies. https://digital.library.adelaide.edu.au/server/api/core/bitstreams/0de10d4d-e7a5-4bcc-93f0-9fbcb526243c/content.
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International Organization for Migration (2012), Ending the 2006 Internal Displacement Crisis in Timor-Leste: Between Humanitarian Aid and Transitional Justice, IOM Migration Research Series, No. 44. https://publications.iom.int/system/files/pdf/mrs44_13june2012.pdf
Kammen, D. (June 22, 2017). Timor-Leste and ASEAN, Chapter 11. In The 3rd ASEAN Reader. Cambridge University Press. https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/3rd-asean-reader/timorleste-and-asean/4CD4A28C5AD04C562F5BE66F74BEDE1A.
Lee, J., & Yoo, M. (2022). An Analysis of the delay in Timor-Leste’s joining ASEAN. The Korean Association of Area Studies, 40(3), 161-189. https://doi.org/10.29159/kjas.40.3.6
McWilliam, A., & Leach, M. (2019). Timor-Leste: Historical Legacies and Contemporary Challenges. In Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Timor-Leste. Routledge.
https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315623177-1/timor-leste-andrew-mcwilliam-michael-leach.
National Parliament (2010). Timor-Leste Strategic Development Plan 2011 – 2030. https://lpr.adb.org/sites/default/files/resource/376/timor-leste-strategic-development-plan.pdf.
Office of the Historian, Shared Knowledge Services (nd). A Guide to the United States’ History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations, by Country, since 1776: Timor-Leste. Bureau of Administration, United States Department of State. https://history.state.gov/countries/timor-leste.
Ortuoste, M. (2019). Timor-Leste and ASEAN. In Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Timor-Leste. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315623177-22
Gwynne, R. N. (2009). Modernization Theory. In A. Kobayashi (Ed.), International Encyclopedia of Human Geography (pp. 163-167). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-102295-5.10107-6
Sambhi, N. (2019). Finding Partners: Timor-Leste’s Evolving Security Ties with Southeast Asia. The Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy. https://www.pellcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Sambhi-2019.pdf
Shaternikov, P. (2021). Challenges and Threats to ASEAN's Security on the Way to East Timor's Accession to the Association. Southeast Asia: Actual problems of Development, 4(53), 166-175. https://doi.org/10.31696/2072-8271-2021-4-4-53-166-175
Soares, L. D. B. (2011). Foreign Aid for State-Building: A Comparative Study of Australian and Chinese Aid Programs in Timor-Leste. [Master Thesis, Faculty of the Center for International Studies of Ohio University]. https://etd.ohiolink.edu/acprod/odb_etd/ws/send_file/send?accession=ohiou1314039039&disposition=inline
Soares, D. E. F. (2018). Political Security Obstacles and Challenges of Timor-Leste’s ASEAN Membership. ABAC Journal, 38(2), 172-196. https://scispace.com/pdf/political-security-obstacles-and-challenges-of-timor-leste-s-w8q0iagdqn.pdf
Southgate, L. (November 2, 2015). ‘Timor-Leste bids for ASEAN membership’. Global Risk Insight. https://globalriskinsights.com/2015/11/timor-leste-bids-for-asean-membership/
State Council of the People’s Republic of China (2023). China, Timor-Leste elevate ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership. https://english.www.gov.cn/news/202309/23/content_WS650eb3a8c6d0868f4e8dfb24.html.
The Habibie Center (2016). Rethinking the Process for Timor-Leste’s Application for ASEAN Membership. ASEAN Studies Program ASEAN Briefs, The Habibie Center, 3(4), 5-6. https://habibiecenter.or.id/storage/publications/49f032c361d3412e8694b11e36358940.pdf.
The ASEAN Secretariat (2025). Forging a New Era: Timor-Leste Admitted into ASEAN. https://asean.org/forging-a-new-era-timor-leste-admitted-into-asean/
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Timor-Leste Ministry of Tourism (nd). A Journey Through Timor Leste History. https://www.timorleste.tl/east-timor/about/history/
To Quoc Newspaper (September 10, 2019). Timor-Leste – the nearer to China, the farther from the ASEAN. [“Timor- Leste càng gần Trung Quốc, ASEAN càng xa Timor- Leste” in Vietnamese]. https://toquoc.vn/dong-timor-cang-gan-trung-quoc-asean-cang-xa-dong-timor-201909091134185.htm,
VOV (September 4, 2020). Why the people of Timor-Leste suddenly want to re-join into Indonesia? [“Vì sao người dân Timor Leste bất ngờ muốn tái gia nhập Indonesia?” in Vietnamese]. https://vov.vn/the-gioi/vi-sao-nguoi-dan-timor-leste-bat-ngo-muon-tai-gia-nhap-indonesia-776545.vov
Webster, D. (2017). Flowers in the Wall: Truth and Reconciliation in Timor-Leste, Indonesia, and Melanesia. University of Calgary Press Open Access Books, University of Calgary Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctvf3w1x3
Yani, Y. M. & Montratama, I. (2018). Indonesia and ASEAN in 2025: A Political and Security Perspective, Dinamika Global, 3(2), 135-153. https://doi.org/10.36859/jdg.v3i02.79