This briefing note examines perspectiveson trust, authority, and responsibility for decision makingin Timor-Leste, using findings from the justice moduleincluded in an extension of the 2007 Timor-Leste Survey ofLiving Standards (TLSLS2) and a review of relevantsocial-science literature. It is hoped that this report willbe a valuable resource for civil servants, civil society,and donor agencies working in Timor-Leste. This noteexamines relationships among East Timorese, focusing ontrust, views on authority, and decision-making power. Itbegins by discussing the relationships between individualsspecifically, trust in one's neighbors and perspectiveson safety. While trust is essentially about theseinterpersonal relationships, research has shown that highlevels of trust are associated with improved economicoutcomes and better maintenance of public goods. Thus, trustwithin a society is important for a much wider set ofoutcomes. In later sections, the authors move to adiscussion of individuals' relationships withinstitutions through the lens of community participation andbeliefs about responsibility for dispute resolution.Throughout, the authors attempt to explain unusual findingsor trends, making reference to relevant social-scienceliterature. However, the authors also note where satisfyingexplanations have not been found, and welcome additionalfeedback and discussion on these areas.
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