[TimorLesteStudies] EuroSEAS Panel 2024 (23-25 July, Amsterdam)

[Susana Barnes]

Dear Friends,



Alberto Fidalgo Castro and I have had a panel proposal to EUROSEAS accepted
and are now seeking panelists to join us!



The panel is entitled: *Ritual Exchange in Timor-Leste: Regulation,
Resistance, and Social Inequality in the Post-Independence Era*



We are seeking contributions that explore the implications of the perceived
or real intensification of customary exchanges, specifically "lia mate"
(death rituals) and "lia moris," (life rituals) in Timor-Leste since its
independence. There has been a growing call for state involvement in
regulating the form and content of these exchanges, as they are often
perceived as draining household resources, exacerbating community tensions,
and contributing to gender discrimination and inequality within East
Timorese society. We aim to examine how various interventions, both
regulatory and resistance-oriented, state and non-state, have sought to
shape or reaffirm these exchange relations in contemporary East Timorese
society.


We invite contributors to reconsider and reflect on the role of exchange
mechanisms in the context of mounting social and economic inequality. We
pose the following critical questions for exploration: What is the extent
and scope of ritual exchange in contemporary Timor-Leste? Who does it
involve and how are these relationships articulated? Do ritual exchanges
exacerbate economic inequality, or can they function as mechanisms for
redistributing resources? Do they serve as platforms for the reinforcement
or renegotiation of social and gender hierarchies? What roles do both the
State and non-state actors (including the Catholic and Christian
(Protestant) Churches play in the regulation of these exchanges, and what
is the underlying significance of their involvement? Furthermore, we
encourage contributors to explore related phenomena such as sorcery
accusations, domestic violence, and theft, considering how these may
function as means of either resisting or reaffirming the significance of
customary exchange in everyday life.



By scrutinizing the intricate interplay between rituals, governance, and
the state, this panel seeks to foster a deeper understanding of the
dynamics at play in Timor-Leste and similar contexts. We invite researchers
to share their insights, research findings, and perspectives, contributing
to a comprehensive dialogue on the multifaceted dimensions of customary
exchanges and their impact on societal norms, wealth distribution, and
socioeconomic disparities.



We have opted for a *double session panel format* which would enable us to
accommodate a total of *6 participants* over two 90 minute sessions plus a
*discussant*.  A Q&A will follow each presentation, encouraging audience
engagement. The double session format allows for a more comprehensive
exploration of diverse topics, with a short break for networking between
sessions.



Please contact Alberto (alberfid at ucm.es) and/or Susanna (
susanna.barnes at usask.ca) if you have any questions or send your (paper)
abstracts to us directly, *not* to the EuroSEAS secretariat, *before
30 March 2024*.



For more information on the Euroseas Conference see
https://www.euroseas.org/
<https://www.euroseas.org/>



Look forward to hearing from you!


Susanna and Alberto
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