Re-examining the history of the East Timorese famine : studying transnational networks of non-state actors in famine relief

Abstract

Current historical perspectives on the East Timorese famine primarily focus on the failure of humanitarian intervention and absence of famine relief by Western states. As such, there remains insufficient information on alternatives to state-directed aid programs. Addressing this gap in scholarship, this thesis proposes how transnational historical perspectives could shed light on the often neglected agency of non-state actors and their contributions to famine relief in the absence of state-directed aid programs. This research draws on archival sources from a range of non-state actors including religious, non-governmental aid and solidarity organizations. To that end, it presents evidence of how they served as a voice for the Timorese population during the famine. Next, it also discusses how non-state actors provided emergency relief in the absence of state-directed aid programs. Conclusively, findings from this research demonstrate how the provision of famine relief by non-state actors relied on the movement of resources as well as interactions across political and geographical boundaries.