Transformations in Independent Timor-leste ― Dynamics of Social and Cultural Cohabitations

The book examines the close relations that are established between land, exchange regimes, and political systems in the framework of a reflection on the challenges before present-day Timor-Leste. It puts forward the idea of "co-habitations", which aims at inscribing the mutual influences arising from the existence of distinct social processes not only side by side but in their mutual influences, sometimes resulting from effective clashes. From this analytical viewpoint of evolving power dynamics of co-habitations, experts in the field investigate issues that have been contentious in the recent past of the new nations. Structured in three sections, they address issues of governance and land, as well as the transformation in the traditional culture including conceptions about identity and exchange, and transformations in the ritual and religious traditions.

For the first time bringing together original contributions by the most notable experts on East Timor in a cohesive and comprehensive way, the book will be of interest to academics in the field of Southeast Asian Studies, Anthropology, Sociology, Law studies, History and Political Science.

Susana de Matos Viegas is Research Fellow at the Institute of Social Sciences, University of Lisbon, Portugal.

Rui Graca Feijo is Research Fellow at the Institute of Social Studies, University of Coimbra, Portugal.