Timor-Leste’s Process to Join ASEAN: Struggle for Membership

Abstract

This research was conducted to find out the journey and challenges faced by Timor-Leste in joining ASEAN both externally and internally. This research uses qualitative methods to help answer the problem formulation in this thesis, which aims to increase the researcher's understanding of social and political phenomena, activities, and processes. The research was conducted by collecting qualitative data based on primary data from interviews with government institutions and secondary data such as literature and document-based or internet research methods. The results of the research analysis show that Timor-Leste's process towards full membership in ASEAN was characterized by persistent efforts and very complicated issues. This research also discusses how ASEAN serves its purpose as an institution and how Timor-Leste seeks economic and political benefits by joining the ASEAN community. Timor-Leste's quest for ASEAN membership is relevant to the Theory of Liberalism which emphasizes the importance of interdependence and cooperation. Timor-Leste's desire to join ASEAN is to seek economic and political benefits.