[TimorLesteStudies] Wigglesworth, Ann PhD thesis available online: Becoming citizens: civil society activism and social change in Timor Leste.

[Bu Wilson]

Wigglesworth, Ann (2010) Becoming citizens: civil society activism and social change in Timor Leste. PhD thesis thesis, Victoria Unversity.

Available at  http://eprints.vu.edu.au/15530/

Abstract
This thesis focuses on a generation of Timorese who were educated during  the Indonesian occupation. Conceptual frameworks of community  development, participation, civil society and citizenship, are drawn  upon to analyse the processes of development taking place in the first  years of nationhood of Timor Leste. Within this context, three themes  are developed. First, a generational divide related to education and the  language policy which leaves the Indonesian educated young people  marginalised within the new national development framework; second, the  limitations that customary practices place upon the ability of young  women to participate in political and social activities; third, an  analysis of the centralised processes of development that have resulted  in young men leaving the rural areas for opportunities in the urban  areas and consequent implications for social organisation. These three  themes are analysed in the context of a civil society largely run by  young Timorese. I investigate the roles of power holders in contemporary  Timor Leste – the government, the traditional leaders and international  development agencies and analyse the place that civil society has in  this new nation. I argue that Timorese activists are able to bridge the  traditional Timorese world with international values of development and  human rights, but their roles and contributions have to date been  inadequately supported.

Dr Bu V.E. Wilson
T: Australia +61  0  407 087 086
T: Timor-Leste + 670 744 0011
E: buvewilson at gmail.com





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