Modesty-Directed Public Policies to Combat Corruption in Timor Leste: An Exploratory Approach to Challenges, Achievements, and Future Prospects

Abstract

Tackling corruption in Timor-Leste has been part of the challenge over time for both the government and wider society in many of the emerging nations of the global south such as Timor-Leste. Timor’s essential challenge is the government and civil society's moral awareness that is slowly deteriorating and will eventually continue to have an endless stream of further negative impacts, such as on the governance and socio-economic progress in terms of weakening the productivity and integrity of modesty-directed and transparent public institutions, eroding civil society trust in government actions, and limiting access to vital services for the benefit of society. This paper explores and assess the effectiveness of public-directed policies in Timor Leste aimed at combating corruption, focusing on the main strategies implemented by the government, the role of independent institutions, and the involvement of civil society in promoting transparency and accountability. The research utilizes a social science exploratory research analyses method where expert interviews, official document reviews, and secondary data analysis are conducted. The results of this study suggest that a critical holistic approach and institutional oversight involving cross-sectoral institutions would be more beneficial to improve the effectiveness of anti-corruption efforts and ensure purposeful governance. Though, arguments-based literature are exposed on the significant steps taken by the Government in Timor, such as the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Commission with the enforcement of the new legal framework, and modulated policies have not been implemented than expected in recent decades.