Timor-Leste – Impact of Party Political Competition
Anne Brown and Volker Boege were in Dili in June, with Anne returning in July, to began working with a team of researchers from the National University of Timor-Leste. The collaboration is part of an AusAID Development Research Award grant, researching the impact of party political competition for local government on social cohesion and stability at the grassroots level. This is an important question particularly for countries rebuilding after long periods of crisis or conflict. Formal government in Timor-Leste is highly centralised, so de-centralisation has been an important element of long term strategies to increase participation and representation and improve the distribution of services and public goods. Violent conflict or occupation and crisis can weaken social trust and lead to fissures and divisions within society. In such conditions, and particularly in societies where party competition is not the cultural norm, competitive elections along party lines can increase polarisation and conflict and decrease the potential for actual participation. At the same time, local communities in Timor-Leste have a long history of managing their own affairs through their own customary, church or other community mechanisms. What is the effect of local government elections on these processes? The research team is investigating these questions, exploring local East Timorese practical understanding of democracy and of the avenues for participation open to them at the grassroots as well as looking at local methods of political participation, decision-making and maintaining community well-being.
This joint research project is also supporting East Timorese researchers to conduct their own research into their own country, undertake analysis and produce written material which will be available for their students as resource and teaching materials. This will assist informed discussion within Timor Leste of important aspects of their own political community. Much of the wealth of material written about Timor Leste is not available in languages which are currently accessible to Timorese students. This research project is expected to be completed by the end of 2010.
This joint research project is also supporting East Timorese researchers to conduct their own research into their own country, undertake analysis and produce written material which will be available for their students as resource and teaching materials. This will assist informed discussion within Timor Leste of important aspects of their own political community. Much of the wealth of material written about Timor Leste is not available in languages which are currently accessible to Timorese students. This research project is expected to be completed by the end of 2010.
