Timor-Leste and ASEAN: inside, outside or in the middle of the game?

Paulo Castro Seixas Instituto de Ciências Sociais e Políticas - Universidade de Lisboa (ISCSP-UL), PORTUGAL; Competing Regional Integrations in Southeast Asia Program (CRISEA); Projeto FCT "As Crianças e o seu Direito à Cidade" (CRICITY)
Nuno Canas Mendes Instituto de Ciências Sociais e Políticas - Universidade de Lisboa (ISCSP-UL), PORTUGAL; Instituto do Oriente - Instituto de Ciências Sociais e Políticas - Universidade de Lisboa (IO-ISCSP-UL), PORTUGAL
Nadine Lobner Competing Regional Integrations in Southeast Asia Program (CRISEA)

Timor-Leste´s membership to ASEAN, which has firstly been submitted in 2011, remains under observation. It´s the longest attempt of a country to join the grouping, without any resolution in sight. In the past 15 years, several studies have been made on this case, trying to reveal the reasons behind the delay, tackling precisely the (des)integration processes of the regional grouping. Even though, the admission procedure is still ongoing – with no straight statement by ASEAN on why the country does not get access. Following this, we have undertaken a qualitative research in which we have conducted interviews with three groups of interest (political actors, civil society representatives, youth) in Timor-Leste, collecting statements and opinions around the admission procedure and ASEAN´s evolution as a central actor. This chapter provides a detailed analysis of our informants’ narratives and perceptions; whereof we try to approach this issue from a new line of interpretation.