Abstract

As the newest nation in Southeast Asia, Timor Leste has faced many challenges including as a former colony of Portugal for five hundred years, invasion and occupation by Indonesia for twenty-four years beginning in 1975, a United Nations mission begun in 1999 and finally transition to independence in 2002. Timor Leste remains amongst the poorest countries in the world, providing a distinctive and exigent environment in which to conduct research. This paper considers the challenges and limitations of conducting research in Timor Leste under these conditions by examining the major development issues Timor currently faces. This in turn presents a unique setting for researchers interested in pursuing field work in a newly independent/post-conflict environment. Issues of cultural sensitivity, cross-cultural research and language and interpretation deliberations are discussed, to justify the necessity of conducting research in Timor Leste in order to improve knowledge of the many Timorese living in a newly independent/post-conflict environment.