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New CSUEB research on the geography and politics of Southeast Asia

Journal cover

Journal cover

  • August 2, 2011 5:14am

Asian Journal of Political Science published research from Assistant Professor of Political Science Maria Ortuoste titled, “Timor-Leste and ASEAN: Shaping Region and State in Southeast Asia.” Ortuoste explains how regional participants have contributed towards shaping the geographic and political landscape of Southeast Asia. Something that is particularly evident in the relationship between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Timor-Leste.  View article.  

In her abstract, she writes, “These definitions were stabilized through the institutionalization of policies and practices of exclusion and inclusion which have affirmed the legitimacy of certain entities in the organization (i.e. being ASEAN), the acceptability of certain behaviors (i.e. acting as ASEAN), and the appropriate interpretive frames with which to solve problems (i.e. seeing as ASEAN). This enabled ASEAN to present a modicum of cohesion even while it facilitated the exclusion of East Timor as a ‘legitimate’ political actor in Southeast Asia. Over time, however, these definitions were destabilized by a convergence of external crises and increasing inconsistencies within ASEAN. As ASEAN embarks on redefining the Southeast Asian ‘community’, Timor-Leste is trying to demonstrate its bona fides by ‘becoming’ an ASEAN state with the requisite institutional capabilities, and ‘acting’ and ‘seeing’ as an ASEAN state in order to generate a positive consensus on its membership.”

KL

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