An Overview of Anthropological Studies of Timor-Leste Since 2002: Twenty Years of Anthropology in A Sovereign Country

Professional anthropological research in Timor-Leste, which started during the final years of Portuguese colonial rule, came to a halt after the Indonesian occupation. During this period, anthropological studies were mostly carried out under close supervision of the Indonesian state itself, mostly w...

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Bibliographic Details
Author: Fidalgo-Castro, Alberto
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2022
Country:México
Institution:EL COLEGIO DE MÉXICO
Repository:Estudios de Asia y África
Language:Spanish
OAI Identifier:oai:oai.estudiosdeasiayafrica.colmex.mx:article/2788
Online Access:https://estudiosdeasiayafrica.colmex.mx/index.php/eaa/article/view/2788
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Insular Southeast Asia
Timor-Leste
independence
literature review
anthropology
Sudeste Asiático insular
independencia
revisión bibliográfica
antropología
Description
Summary:Professional anthropological research in Timor-Leste, which started during the final years of Portuguese colonial rule, came to a halt after the Indonesian occupation. During this period, anthropological studies were mostly carried out under close supervision of the Indonesian state itself, mostly with the goal of ultimately legitimizing the occupation. With the restoration of independence and the return of sovereignty, there was a resurgence of anthropological studies which initially focused on work oriented to the design of reconstruction and development policies, as well as human rights. As the years have passed and with waning interest in Timor-Leste as a country reopened to research, other areas of study have emerged. This article surveys different research projects undertaken during the last twenty years of anthropological work in the country.