Between Tradition and Technocracy: Multi-Level Interactions of Traditional Knowledge and Climate Governance in Timor-Leste = 전통과 기술관료주의의 경계에서: 동티모르 전통지식과 기후 거버넌스의 다층적 상호작용

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Climate adaptation in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) takes place within governance systems that are multi-layered and plural,
shaped by international frameworks, state institutions, and enduring forms of traditional authority. Using Timor-Leste as a case study, this
thesis examines how these layers intersect in practice, where formal state-led adaptation planning operates alongside traditional governance
systems, most notably tara bandu. It explores how traditional knowledge and authority engage with formal climate governance across
community, municipal, and national levels, and how these relationships shape the legitimacy and everyday practice of climate adaptation.

Drawing on twelve semi-structured interviews with traditional leaders, municipal officials, and national-level actors, this study adopts a mixed
- methods, multi-level research design supported by light computational text analysis. The findings show that adaptation in Timor-Leste is
governed through ongoing interaction rather than linear policy implementation. While tara bandu continues to play an important role in
regulating natural resource use and maintaining social cohesion, its authority is increasingly mediated by livelihood pressures, generational
change, and its relationship with formal institutions. The study highlights how climate governance operates through plural systems of
authority, where alignment and misalignment across levels influence trust, participation, and the durability of adaptation efforts. By
foregrounding these dynamics, the thesis contributes to broader debates on multi-level climate governance, localization, and the role of
customary systems in adaptation practice.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• 1. Introduction p.3
• 2. Literature Review p. 12
• Framing Climate Governance in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) p. 12
• Multi-level Climate Governance in SIDS p. 16
• Traditional Knowledge and Authority in Climate Adaptation p. 20
• Bridging Worlds: How Traditional Knowledge Enhances Aid Effectiveness in Climate Adaptation p. 25
• Friction and Disjuncture: When Aid Delivery Undermines Customary Climate Governance p. 27
• Gaps in Literature and Research Contributions p. 31
• 3. Analytical Framework and Methodology p. 33
• Research Design p. 33
• Analytical Framework p. 35
• Sampling strategy p. 36
• Data Collection p. 37
• Data Analysis p. 39
• Ethics p. 41
• Limitations p. 42
• 4. Analysis and Results (by Theme) p. 44
• Theme 1: Local experiences of climate change p. 52
• Theme 2: Traditional knowledge and practices p. 54
• Theme 3: The role and evolution of tara bandu p. 56
• Theme 4: Traditional - formal interactions p. 58
• Theme 5: Authority and trust p. 60
• Theme 6: Knowledge recognition and power p. 62
• Theme 7: Adaptation practices and contestation p. 65
• Theme 8: Future pathways and integration p. 66
• 5. Conclusion and Key Findings p. 69
• 6. Discussion and Recommendations p. 73
• 7. References p. 78
• [Annex] p. 84