Indonesia Conference Directory

This article examines the political economy of national ownership, focussing on the reconstruction of the healthcare system in post-conflict Timor-Leste in relation to the shift from aid-dependence to oil-dependence. Considering three main approaches to development policy-making-patronage-based, populist and rationalist-it argues that, from 2002, the government generally used patronage-based strategies that benefitted elite political networks, increasing corruption. Based on empirical research, the study demonstrates that, in several areas, the government of the Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor (2002-2007) could exercise some autonomous decision-making despite being heavily aid-dependent. Later, under the National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction government (2007-2017), empowered by oil resources, elites had greater control over development. However, the creation of a modern healthcare system was central to the elites political ideology, involving populist rather than patronage-based politics. Analysis of this research indicates that ownership regarding healthcare has become concentrated among powerful groups (donors, elites, and the MoH) while health professionals, who advocate a neoliberal approach, lack a political voice. Thus, the paper problematises the Paris Declaration is focus on country ownership to ensure better aid delivery as unrealistic because ownership becomes subject to contestation.