Oil and East Timor's Independence

Nuno Canas Mendes e André Saramago (eds.), Dimensions of State-Building: Timor-Leste in Focus, ISCSP, Lisboa, 2011, pp. 111-137

26 Pages Posted: 7 Jun 2017 Last revised: 9 Jun 2017

See all articles by Francisco Pereira Coutinho

Francisco Pereira Coutinho

NOVA University of Lisbon - School of Law

Francisco Gala

New University of Lisbon - Faculty of Law

Date Written: 2011

Abstract

This article deals with the relevance of oil to the emergence and sustainability of East-Timor as an independent state. It gives an overview of the impact that oil had in the independence process of East-Timor and, mainly, on how oil resources are regulated. Oil not only had a key role in the pre-independence period, but it is also crucial to the consolidation of the political and economical independence of East-Timor. The current regulatory framework is, moreover, a by-product of the pre-independence years, since the several agreements established with Australia over the Timor Sea can be better explained by realpolitik reasons than by legal arguments.

Keywords: East-Timor, Timor-Leste, Australia, Self-determination, Oil, Continental Shelf

JEL Classification: K10, K30

Suggested Citation

Pereira Coutinho, Francisco and Gala, Francisco, Oil and East Timor's Independence (2011). Nuno Canas Mendes e André Saramago (eds.), Dimensions of State-Building: Timor-Leste in Focus, ISCSP, Lisboa, 2011, pp. 111-137, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2981393

Francisco Pereira Coutinho (Contact Author)

NOVA University of Lisbon - School of Law ( email )

Campus de Campolide
Lisboa, 1099-032
Portugal

Francisco Gala

New University of Lisbon - Faculty of Law ( email )

Travessa Estevao Pinto
Campus de Campolide
Lisbon, 1099-032
Portugal

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