ABSTRACT
The years immediately following the 2006 crisis in Timor Leste engendered a discourse on this young nation becoming a “failed state.” Furthermore, causes for post-independence instability have been argued in terms of having its origins in the East Timorese culture, or in internal political power struggles, or in international influences and interests. Other analyses gave heavier emphasis to “truth and reconciliation” and to the economic issues as root causes of the state affairs in Timor Leste. Throughout the chapters of this book, drawing on my field research
and on a wide range of academic and media sources, I highlighted the dynamic and interactive nature of numerous key factors that have contributed to Timor Leste’s post-independence state of affairs. The previous chapters provided a synthesis of the knowledge that has been produced on this newest country of Southeast Asia. I also wanted to draw attention to the complex challenges of the nation building process. Moreover, I argued that Timor Leste’s process of nation building and challenges that impact it must be considered from the perspective of the dynamic relations between local, regional, national, and international (or global), and with an understanding of the historical and cultural roots of these challenges and processes.
