Island of Insecurity? A critical examination of insecurity and its effects on emancipation in Timor-Leste
RISSANEN, MARJUKKA (2011)
2011
Kansainvälinen politiikka - International Relations
Johtamiskorkeakoulu - School of Management
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2011-11-09
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:uta-1-21896
https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:uta-1-21896
Tiivistelmä
This thesis studies the multiple meanings of insecurity in Timor-Leste with two core objectives: Firstly, to categorize the sources of insecurity from the individual’s perspective and reveal any common root causes for these insecurities, and secondly: to expose ‘bottlenecks’ or ‘constraints’ that impede the emancipatory process in Timor-Leste. While attempts are made to categorize insecurity in the various ways in which it emerges from the personal narratives of a group of East Timorese, there is no intention to produce any generalizations about the country or make comprehensive theoretical claims.
The Welsh School theory of security and the postmodern feminist approach are drawn upon to establish the theoretical framework for the study. Both approaches are complementary in the critical examination of insecurities and acknowledge the individual as the primary referent object of security. This allows for the access of knowledge which can only be obtained from the experience and everyday life of individuals.
The primary source of data consists of the narratives of 17 East Timorese individuals and interviews with 4 foreigners. The method used to analyze the data adopts ‘the analysis of narratives’ as postulated by Donald E. Polkinghorne.
The findings of the study illustrate the benefits of assessing insecurity from an individual’s perspective and the insights this may have on the constraints to an emancipatory process. The results make a strong case for the involvement of more ‘bottom-up’ approaches in research and non-state driven initiatives in emancipatory politics.
Asiasanat:Timor-Leste, security, insecurity, Welsh School, emancipation, postmodern feminism, gender, narratives
The Welsh School theory of security and the postmodern feminist approach are drawn upon to establish the theoretical framework for the study. Both approaches are complementary in the critical examination of insecurities and acknowledge the individual as the primary referent object of security. This allows for the access of knowledge which can only be obtained from the experience and everyday life of individuals.
The primary source of data consists of the narratives of 17 East Timorese individuals and interviews with 4 foreigners. The method used to analyze the data adopts ‘the analysis of narratives’ as postulated by Donald E. Polkinghorne.
The findings of the study illustrate the benefits of assessing insecurity from an individual’s perspective and the insights this may have on the constraints to an emancipatory process. The results make a strong case for the involvement of more ‘bottom-up’ approaches in research and non-state driven initiatives in emancipatory politics.
Asiasanat:Timor-Leste, security, insecurity, Welsh School, emancipation, postmodern feminism, gender, narratives