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ProQuest Information and Learning 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0600 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with with permission permission of the of copyright the copyright owner. owner.Further reproductionFurther reproduction prohibited without prohibited permission. without permission. CONSTRUCTING A POSTCOLONIAL NATION: THE CASE OF EAST TIMOR by Christina Bishop submitted to the The School of International Service of The American University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Masters of Arts in International Affairs Chair: V /Q yl Dr. Randolph Persaud Liu*=> Q-ri) (- Dr. Louis W. Goodman I3> ~ L O o ' 1- Date <1 2002 The American University Washington, D.C. 2002 School of International Service AMERICAN UNIVERSITY, ?56>5 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: 1411392 Copyright 2002 by Bishop, Christina I. All rights reserved. ___ (g) UMI UMI Microform 1411392 Copyright 2003 by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. © COPYRIGHT by Christina Bishop 2002 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. CONSTRUCTING A POSTCOLONIAL NATION: THE CASE OF EAST TIMOR BY Christina Bishop ABSTRACT Based on the approaches of Partha Chatterjee and Benedict Anderson, this paper reconstructs East Timor’s nation-state development. By focusing on the influences of colonialism, it reveals the way the Timor Island became East Timor. Anderson’s approach discusses the impact of colonial institutions and determines that after some years of violence these imposed structures will produce a modem nation-state. Chatterjee’s approach focuses on the instrumental role of national elites who in some ways assume the role of the colonizers. According to Chatterjee, this role explains recent and future conflict. While the primary purpose of this analysis is to provide a unique study of how the nation of East Timor was constructed, it also reveals common, western- centric assumptions regarding nation-state development. While current conflicts in East Timor may simply be the birth pains of a new nation-state, Chatterjee’s approach offers a compelling understanding that is less western-centric and more appropriate to the postcolonial world. ii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OFCONTENTS Abstract .................................................................................................................................................. ii Introduction............................................................................................................................................1 Theoretical Formulations on Nationalism...................................................................................... 3 I. IMPACT OF PORTUGUESE COLONIALISM: 1515-1974 ............................................ 14 Historical Background......................................................................................................... 14 Anderson’s “Official Nationalism”.................................................................................. 18 Chatterjee’s “Moment of Departure”.............................................................................. 25 II. THE DECLINE OF PORTUGUESE COLONIALISM TO THE END OF INDONESIAN OCCUPATION: 1974-1999 .............................................................................. 33 Historical Background........................................................................................................ 33 Anderson’s “Popular Nationalism”..................................................................................36 Chatteijee’s “Moment of Manoeuvre”............................................................................48 III. INDEPENDENCE IN EAST TIMOR: 1999-PRESENT ................................................. 65 Historical Background........................................................................................................ 66 Anderson’s “Imagined Community”............................................................................... 68 Chatteijee's “Moment of Arrival”....................................................................................77 IV. A NEW POSTCOLONIAL NATION ...................................................................................90 Bibliography .......................................................................................................................................97 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 1 CONSTRUCTING A POSTCOLONIAL NATION: THE CASE OF EAST TIMOR Introduction Studies on nationalism and nation-state formation often rely on definitions deriving from European experiences. Although some believe that nations are timeless social entities or that they have existed for a long time in various forms, most academic debates recognize nation-states as a modem invention. Based on this perspective, the modem (rational, secular, market-driven) state (territorially-bounded entity) originated in Europe during the Enlightenment. Ideas such as secularism, rationality, and the importance of progress informed the new governing ideology while expansion of the capitalist industry significantly changed economic interactions. As this new economic system and style of governing merged into one structure, territorial boundaries and extensive bureaucracies followed as defining characteristics. In addition to this standard historical perspective, discussion of the link that developed between a people and a governing structure followed a specific logic. People relied on the state to perform certain functions such as protection. In turn, the state collected taxes as a means of payment in order to perform its duties. The state remained viable as long as its people, or citizens, perceived its legitimacy. In addition to feeling connected with their government, the people recognized themselves as part of a single Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. community. Based on this mutual recognition, a nationalist movement or ideology emerged within the population. While this analysis helps explain nation-state formation and nationalism in Europe, many parts of Asia, Africa and Latin America experienced a different process. In fact, many of the assertions relevant to understanding nation-state development in Europe have little relevance to these other regions of the world. The most significant differentiating factor is the colonial experience. In postcolonial states the nation-state structure was brought to these regions via the European colonist. When the “enlightened” world colonized their trading partners, they purposely as well as unconsciously subjugated and imposed their ideas of modernization onto their subjects. Ultimately, the manner in which these populations responded to colonial impositions presented different nation-state developments. Because the issue of colonialism is minimized in most academic debates concerning nation-state development, other significant developments affecting postcolonial states are misunderstood. For example, the top-down imposition of nation­ state categories and the role of the revolutionary elite are products of the colonial experience. Thus, understanding the creation of a nation in a postcolonial context must take these issues into consideration. Since many current nation-states did not arrive at their status by way of the European trajectory, new studies need to be conducted in order to broaden this academic debate. This paper analyzes the development of East Timor into a nation-state, specifically how the nation of East Timor emerged. Using this new nation-state as a case study, this paper attempts to answer the question: How was the East Timor nation created? In order to answer this question, the paper will look at the Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 3 selection of criteria for inclusion