INSTITUTIONAL BRICOLAGE AND ADMINISTRATIVE RESILIENCE: The Role of Tara-Bandu in Timor-Leste's Governance Cycle
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: In post-sovereign states, the quest for institutional stability is frequently hampered by a persistent gap between formal rational-legal bureaucracy and indigenous sociopolitical realities. While international development paradigms often prioritize standardized administrative reforms, these efforts frequently result in "isomorphic mimicry," where state structures appear functional but lack genuine public legitimacy. This article examines the potential of Culture-Based Management (CBM) as a transformative strategy for reconstructing bureaucracy in Timor-Leste. A post-conflict fragile state, moving beyond organizational performance, we conceptualize CBM as a legitimizing mechanism that synchronizes modern administrative requirements with traditional authority structures. Drawing on a conceptual analysis and secondary case evidence from Timor-Leste, our findings suggest that when bureaucratic processes are embedded within local cultural logic, the resulting "hybrid bureaucracy" significantly enhances state capacity and public trust. The article contributes to state-building theory by demonstrating that bureaucratic legitimacy in post-conflict developing states is not merely an output of service delivery, but a procedural outcome of institutional alignment with the local lifeworld. We conclude with policy implications for civil service reform, emphasizing that sustainable governance requires a move away from administrative orthodoxy toward a context-sensitive, culture-based approach. Keywords: State Legitimacy, Culture-Based Management, Post-Sovereign State, Timor-Leste, Hybrid Bureaucracy, Public Administration.
Institutions: Hasanuddin University, Universidade da Paz
Language: English
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7214523653