Abstract: The political context of the recent winning of East Timorese independence is unique. But comparisons with a few other ex-colonial countries may help clarify the special characteristics of East Timor's case—such as ethnicity, attitudes toward previous colonizers, political organization and leadership. After analyzing these characteristics, this paper will describe the constitution-making process, highlight the basic elements of the new constitution, which has much in common with that of Portugal, and examine the possible problems that may flow from its provisions, and omissions. Problems are greater as a result of an almost complete lack of institutional legacy, and because of the tensions between President and Prime Minister. The constitution’s prospects of heralding the onset of "democratic consolidation", as many hope, are also affected by several other factors. Positive factors include a widely popular national leader, a mass-based political party with a firm parliamentary majority, and good long term economic prospects from off-shore oil. Negative factors are also weighty, including short term economic crisis after the Indonesian destruction of infrastructure without adequate UN assistance for rehabilitation, utter confusion about land rights, the emergence of corruption and absence of previous experience in constitutional democracy.

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