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Circulating Stories: E ast T imorese in A ustralia and Questions of Post‐Independence Identity
Author(s) -
Askland Hedda Haugen
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
oceania
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 1834-4461
pISSN - 0029-8077
DOI - 10.1002/ocea.5051
Subject(s) - homeland , independence (probability theory) , diaspora , nationalism , identity (music) , politics , indonesian , gender studies , sociology , political science , aesthetics , art , law , linguistics , statistics , philosophy , mathematics
During the Indonesian occupation of E ast T imor, diasporic groups played a central role in the campaign for self‐determination. Throughout the occupation, E ast T imorese in A ustralia maintained a strong sense of long‐distance nationalism, which drove, directly or indirectly, communal and social activities. The fight to free E ast T imor was at the core of the exiles' collective imagination, defining them as a largely homeland‐focused community. However, in the aftermath of the independence, the role and position of the diaspora have been less clear and the exiles have struggled to redefine their relationship with their home country. Personal experiences upon return and perceptions of political, cultural, economic, and social development (or lack thereof) have led to renewed questioning of identity and belonging. This article explores the renewed questioning of identity and belonging embedded in people's ‘circulating stories’ of change, sacrifice and return.

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