HYBRID GOVERNANCE Dynamics of democracy at the suku level

From the first national elections in 2002 and first local suku (village) elections over 2004–05, the East Timorese people have repeatedly and enthusiastically exercised their right to choose their representatives through direct, secret ballot. The commitment of the East Timorese state to democracy has also been demonstrated through formal steps to safeguard fundamental political and civil freedoms. However, there have also been many challenges in the first decade of independence which have had a negative impact on community life. Violent conflict between members of different political parties has weakened harmony among the people and threatened post-conflict reconstruction.2 In order to limit these negative impacts and to implement democracy in a manner that will positively contribute to people’s lives, we need to understand what impact elections have had on development and community cohesion in the suku, and to incorporate this knowledge into our state-building processes.