Dampak Konflik Elit terhadap Konsolidasi Demokrasi di Timor Leste

Abstract

Timor-Leste, the world's first sovereign state of the twenty-first century, is classified as part of the third wave of democratization as conceptualized in Huntington's (1991) framework. Since its independence in 2002, the country has successfully preserved procedural democracy through regular, competitive elections, political dynamics remain strained by recurring rivalries. This study analyzes the impact of elite conflict on consolidation democracy in Timor Leste, especially in the period surrounding and the following the 2022 Presidential Election, using a qualitative descriptive approach with secondary data and source triangulation. The findings show that elite conflict negatively impacts two core dimensions. Behaviorally, persistent rivalries have hindered cooperative political relations and governance among major actors, even though they have not escalated into non-democratic attempts to overthrow the regime. Constitutionally, political feuds have encouraged elites to strategically leverage legal and constitutional powers for partisan gain, demonstrating that constitutional norms have not yet been fully internalized in political practice. Consequently, this study concludes that while elite conflict has not derailed procedural democracy in Timor-Leste, it poses a significant challenge to achieving consolidated democracy across these behavioral and constitutional dimensions.