Peacebuilding and sustainable peace: UN missions in Timor-Leste and Portugal's contribution
This project addresses the discussion about the contribution of peace missions for peacebuilding within the United Nations (UN) framework. This study seeks to understand the multi-dimensionality that the successive mandates of these missions have acquired in the case of the UN peace missions in Timor-Leste. It also addresses the implications that those changes have had on the way Portugal has positioned and articulated itself concerning its participation in these missions. The overall goal is to evaluate the contribution of these missions for building peace in Timor-Leste. This study is informed by a critical framework of analysis in line with authors such as Duffield (2001) and Richmond (2007), with the goal of explaining not only the visible dynamics, such as strategies of action of the missions at the local level, but also invisible dynamics, such as local relations that escape predefined strategies, and have direct impact in the peacebuilding. This framing allows rendering explicit the underlining assumptions to this type of interventions, analyzing relations that are many times unadjusted between what is assumed at the planning level, and implementation and reality in the field. We have identified two main analytical perspectives in the literature on peacebuilding: its strategic alignment within the UN framework, and the concern about its articulation with other dynamics of peacebuilding. The first points to the debate between a top-down strategy centered on political elites and decision-makers, and a bottom-up one, which focus on local actors and their contributions for peacebuilding dynamics (Paris, 2000; Bellamy and Williams, 2004; Paris and Sisk, 2009). The second perspective includes issues of articulation between different types of UN missions, and between these and other policies and actors. In the first case, the central issue relates to the articulation of peacebuilding with peacekeeping (Ramsbotham et al., 2005; Doyle and Sambanis, 2006). In the second, the discussion centers on the functions performed by peacebuilding and, simultaneously, by development aid policies and actors that converge in the same direction (Duffield and Wadell, 2004). In this way, this project analyses three main problems. First, the articulation between peacebuilding and peacekeeping, which will be dealt here with a critical focus, through the analysis of the case of Timor-Leste, where there has been an evolution in the mandates’ logic. Second, this analysis envisages to assessing exit strategies. It is considered that lessons learnt in the genealogic process of previous missions should be included in the planning of these. Third, these dynamics gain evidence in this study in the analysis of strategies of adequacy of the Portuguese participation in these types of scenarios. The analysis of these problems in Timor-Leste contributes for a better understanding of the dynamics of peace consolidation, both at theoretical and implementation levels. For this effect, it is adopted a parallel approach of the evolution of these United Nations missions in Timor-Leste since 1999 as a reflex of the changes in the field and of the evolution of Portuguese participation in these missions. This approach will be complemented by a dialectic analysis between these two lines of study focusing on the evolution of the mandates of the peace missions in Timor-Leste and the respective Portuguese participation in these missions, through process tracing. The research techniques envisaged include document analysis and the organization of semi-structured qualitative interviews to missions’ personnel, Portuguese and Timorese authorities and development aid agents in Timor-Leste, as well as to local leaders, non-governmental organizations and other relevant actors. The approach here proposed, for its conceptual (articulation between missions and peace consolidation), methodological (process tracing analysis and dialectics of parallel evolutions between mandates and contributing actors) and empirical (a single case with different missions, allowing a holistic approach) character, offers an innovative element in the analysis of peacebuilding. It is expected from this project a relevant contribution to reflection on this topic, as well as more concrete results regarding diffusion of main conclusions, through public debates, publications and political recommendations. The team has experience in carrying out fieldwork, for example in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Russia, Georgia and Mozambique, what confers it adequate skills for the fulfillment of the proposed goals. Additionally, all team members have developed conceptual (Freire and Lopes, 2008b, 2008a) and operational (Carreiras, 2002, 2006) work on the topic proposed, which positions the team on a solid scientific basis for the development of this project.
Training (concluded)
Ramon Blanco de Freitas, “Peace as Government: The (Bio)Politics of State-Building” , PhD in International Politics and Conflict Resolution [Doutoramento em Política Internacional e Resolução de Conflitos], School of Economics of the University of Coimbra and Centre for Social Studies, 11 October 2013.
Carlos Manuel Morgado Braz, “A contribuição das forças armadas portuguesas para a consolidação de estabilidade em Timor-Leste”, Master in International Relations [Mestrado em Relações Internacionais], Peace and Security Studies [Especialidade em Estudos da Paz e da Segurança], School of Economics of the University of Coimbra, 8 October 2013.
Training (ongoing)
Carla Luís, “The role of the ‘local’ on electoral systems within UN statebuilding: between theory and practice”, PhD in International Politics and Conflict Resolution [Doutoramento em Política Internacional e Resolução de Conflitos], School of Economics of the University of Coimbra and Centre for Social Studies (FCT - Bolsa de Doutoramento SFRH/BD/79096/2011).
Publications
M.R.Freire, P.D.Lopes e D.Nascimento (2012) “The Nexus between Security, Development and Humanitarianism: A Critical Appraisal to Multidimensional Peace Missions”, in Fulvio Attinà (org.), The Politics and Policies of Relief, Aid and Reconstruction. Contrasting Approaches to Disasters and Emergencies. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, pp.76-92.
Freire, Maria Raquel; Lopes, Paula Duarte (2013) “Peacebuilding in Timor-Leste: Finding a Way between External Intervention and Local Dynamics”, International Peacekeeping, vol.20, n.2, pp.204-218.
Freire, Maria Raquel (2013) “As Nações Unidas e a consolidação da paz em Timor-Leste: uma nova roupagem para velhos procedimentos?”, Estratégia, vol.XXII, pp.171-189.
Lopes, Paula Duarte (2013), “Construção da paz e desenvolvimento em Timor-Leste: uma análise crítica”, Revista Universitas: Relações Internacionais, vol.11, n.2, pp.23-60.
Luís, Carla (2013) “Do Democratisation and Global Justice go hand in hand? The case of Timor-Leste”, Politikon: IAPSS Political Science Journal, n.20, pp.47-59.
Other publications
Freire, Maria Raquel (2012) “Consolidação da Paz em Timor-Leste: Um Modelo Híbrido – Entre a Formalidade e a Informalidade”, Globo, n.1, pp.50-53.
Organisation of thematic issues
2013 - “Olhares sobre Timor Leste: da memória histórica à construção do estado | Perspectives on Timor Leste: from historical memory to the state’s consolidation”, P@x Boletim Online n.22 | Bulletin P@x n.22, Estudos para a Paz do Núcleo de Humanidades, Migrações e Estudos para a Paz (NHUMEP) do Centro de Estudos Sociais-Laboratório Associado (CES-LA) | Peace Studies of the Humanities, Migration and Peace Studies Group (NHUMEP) - Centre for Social Studies (CES), janeiro | January, 34pp.
Papers presented at national and international scientific events
Blanco, Ramon (2013) “State-Building como State-Failure: As Nações Unidas em Timor-Leste”, Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas, Universidade da Beira Interior (UBI), Covilhã, 31 May.
Blanco, Ramon (2013) “A Resolução de Conflitos no Cenário Internacional: A Atuação das Nações Unidas”, Conferência-Aula aberta, Faculdades de Campinas (FACAMP), Campinas, Brasil, 19 September.
Blanco, Ramon (2013) “The (De)Construction of UN Peace in Timor-Leste”, participação na Mesa-Redonda “Peacebuilding in Timor-Leste”, Intensive Programme “Peacebuilding: dilemmas and challenges”, Coimbra, Portugal, 4 November.
Cierco, Teresa (2013) “O processo eleitoral em Timor-Leste”, Conferência-aula aberta, Seminário de Investigação II do Mestrado em Relações Internacionais da Universidade da Beira Interior, 15 March.
Cierco, Teresa (2013) “Rule of Law em Timor-Leste”, Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas da Universidade da Beira Interior, 31 May.
Freire, Maria Raquel (2013) “Building what peace in Timor-Leste? UN intervention, bottom-up dynamics and (in)formal processes”, Brown Bag Seminar, Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, University of San Diego, San Diego, USA, 2 December.
Freire, Maria Raquel (2013) “The International System and Global Governance: The United Nations role in peacekeeping. The case of East Timor”, MA in Peace and Justice Studies, Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, University of San Diego, San Diego, USA, 12 November.
Freire, Maria Raquel (2013) “Peacebuilding in Timor-Leste: a critical look at the UN involvement”, One International Relations or Many? Multiple Worlds, Multiple Crises, 8th Pan-European Conference on International Relations, Warsaw, Poland, 18-21 September.
Freire, Maria Raquel (2013) “The United Nations in Timor-Leste: A Critical Appraisal”, Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies and the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia, 29 July.
Freire, Maria Raquel (2013) Mesa redonda informal sobre as Nações Unidas e a construção da paz, com discussão do caso de Timor-Leste. National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, 26 July.
Freire, Maria Raquel (2013) “As Nações Unidas em Timor-Leste: Construir que paz?”, Understanding Timor-Leste 2013 | Buka Hatene Timor-Leste 2013 | Compreender Timor-Leste 2013 | Mengerti Timor-Leste 2013, 4th Timor-Leste Studies Association (TLSA) Conference, National University of Timor-Lorosa’e (UNTL), Díli, Timor-Leste, 15-16 July.
Freire, Maria Raquel (2013) “Peacekeeping and peacebuilding: from words to practice”, Universidade Nacional de Timor-Leste, Díli, Timor-Leste, 10 July.
Freire, Maria Raquel (2013) “As Nações Unidas em Timor-Leste: (des)construir a paz”, Conferência A Construção da Paz em Timor-Leste: Dez Anos Depois, que Balanço?, Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas, Universidade da Beira Interior (UBI), Covilhã, 31 May.
Freire, Maria Raquel (2012) “Building peace? Or deconstructing pre-informed models? The United Nations in Timor-Leste”, 2012 Annual Asia-Pacific Conference, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Ritsumeikan Center for Asia Pacific Studies (RCAPS), Beppu City, Oita, Japan, 7-9 December.
Freire, Maria Raquel; Lopes, Paula Duarte (2012) “Deconstructing the external/internal nexus in Timor-Leste”, New Frontiers for Peacebuilding: Hybridity, Governance, and Local Agency, The Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute (HCRI) and The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom, 13-14 September.
Freire, Maria Raquel; Leitão, António; Lopes, Paula Duarte (2012) “Construção da Paz em Timor-Leste: uma análise das dinâmicas de política externa portuguesa”, Congresso da Associação Portuguesa de Ciência Política, Lisbon, ISCSP, 1-3 March.
Leitão, António (2013) “A Relação entre Portugal e Timor-Leste: Oportunidades e Desafios no Pós-intervencionismo”, Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas, Universidade da Beira Interior (UBI), Covilhã, 31 May.
Lopes, Paula Duarte; Nascimento, Daniela (2013) “Portuguese foreign aid politics: a critical analysis”, 8th Pan –European Conference on International Relations, Warsaw, 18-21 September (presented by D.Nascimento).
Lopes, Paula Duarte (2013) “Construção da paz e apoio ao desenvolvimento em Timor-Leste: uma análise crítica”, Understanding Timor-Leste 2013 | Buka Hatene Timor-Leste 2013 | Compreender Timor-Leste 2013 | Mengerti Timor-Leste 2013, 4th Timor-Leste Studies Association (TLSA) Conference, National University of Timor-Lorosa’e (UNTL), Díli, Timor-Leste, 15-16 July.
Lopes, Paula Duarte; Leitão, António; Braz, Carlos; Blanco, Ramon; Luís, Carla (2013) Round-table on “Peacebuilding in Timor-Leste”, Intensive Programme on Peacebuilding: dilemmas and challenges, Coimbra, 4-13 November.
Luís, Carla (2013) “Do Democratisation and Global Justice go hand in hand? The case of Timor-Leste”, Conferência Internacional “Global Justice”, 16th IAPSS Academic Conference of the International Association for Political Science Students (IAPSS), Rome, 6-8 March.
Luís, Carla (2013) “Elections in Timor-Leste: the role of popular participation in statebuilding” e “Eleições em Timor-Leste: o papel da participação popular no Statebuilding”, Understanding Timor-Leste 2013 | Buka Hatene Timor-Leste 2013 | Compreender Timor-Leste 2013 | Mengerti Timor-Leste 2013, 4th Timor-Leste Studies Association (TLSA) Conference, National University of Timor-Lorosa’e (UNTL), Díli, Timor-Leste, 15-16 July.
Luís, Carla (2013) “Timor-Leste e o novo Estado independente: o papel da participação popular na luta emancipatória”, II Congresso Internacional Karl Marx, Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 24-26 October.
Luís, Carla (2013) “Participation and its specific context: analysing “Paktu Eleisaun Pasífika” in Timor-Leste”, IV Colóquio Internacional de Doutorandos/as do CES, Coimbra C: “Dialogar com os Tempos e os Lugares do(s) Mundo(s)”, Faculdade de Economia da Universidade de Coimbra, 6-7 December.
Organisation of scientific events
Braz, Carlos Manuel Morgado; Freire, Maria Raquel; Leitão, António; Lopes, Paula Duarte (2013) Organização da Conferência “ O contributo militar português na consolidação da paz em Timor-Leste”, Faculdade de Economia da Universidade de Coimbra, 30 May.
Cierco, Teresa (2013) “A construção da paz em Timor-Leste: dez anos depois, que balanço?”, Conferência, Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas, Universidade da Beira Interior, 31 May.
Freire, Maria Raquel; Leitão, António; Lopes, Paula Duarte (2012) Organização da Conferência “Das FALINTIL às Forças Armadas de Defesa de Timor-Leste (FDTL). O Início do Processo Político Militar em 2001”, Major Luís Manuel Bernardino, Sala Keynes, Faculdade de Economia da Universidade de Coimbra, 16 May.
Freire, Maria Raquel; Leitão, António; Lopes, Paula Duarte (2012) Organização da Workshop “Consolidação da Paz e a sua Sustentabilidade: as Missões da ONU em Timor-Leste e a contribuição de Portugal”, CES Lisbon, 18 April.
Nascimento, Daniela (2013) organização de Seminário com Antero Benedito da Silva (UNTL), “Solidariedade Internacional e a Resistência Timorense no período de ocupação militar Indonésia”, Faculdade de Economia da Universidade de Coimbra, 27 September.
Carla Luís
Carlos Braz
Daniela Nascimento
Helena Carreiras
Maria Raquel Freire (coord)
Paula Duarte Lopes
Ramon Blanco
Teresa Cierco