PhD candidate Yumiko Kaneko reports on her recent fieldwork in Timor-Leste, which she carried out with support from IAPS and the School of Politics and International Relations.
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The main purpose of my fieldwork was to conduct interviews and to observe daily life of Timorese. Through the fieldwork, I had sought to elucidate humanitarian aid workers' values, perspectives, and difficulties towards their support, which leads to an analysis of the political and social implications of adopting psychosocial approaches for post-conflict peace-building in Timor-Leste.
During my almost two-month stay in Timor-Leste, the following data collection was used: open-end and semi-structured interviews, and participant observation such as having a homestay at a local house and attending national workshops, national New Year's Day celebration, and local wedding parties. The informants consisted of triangulation of various stakeholders: international organisations (e.g., UNDP), bilateral government agencies of countries that are main donors of Timor-Leste (i.e., Australia, Japan, and the US), the ministries of Timor-Leste, International NGOs, Local NGOs, civil society (e.g., church) and ordinary people. This triangulated structure enabled me not only to analyse each country's projects and interests to aid Timor-Leste, but also to elicit different points of view that the different stakeholders have.
This fieldwork was such a fantastic experience that has comprehended the disparity between theory and reality and a precious time creating wonderful networks with new people who I met in Timor-Leste. I am very grateful for the generous financial support from both IAPS and the School of Politics and International Relations.
Yumiko Kaneko, PhD candidate
School of Politics and International Relations
Posted on Wednesday 24th February 2016