Graduate Program

Political Science

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Semester of Degree Completion

2005

Thesis Director

Lilian Barria

Thesis Committee Member

Ryan Hendrickson

Thesis Committee Member

David Carwell

Abstract

This thesis examines two factors that influence the success of a secessionist movement: the presence of a cohesive group within the secessionist movement and third party support for the secessionist movement. To understand the relevance of these two factors, the secessionist movements of East Timor, West Papua, and Aceh are tested. These three secessionist movements all occur in Indonesia and each one demands independence from Indonesia and wishes to form its own separate state. This thesis first examines the relevance of these two factors in East Timor because East Timor successfully achieved independence from Indonesia. Once finding that these factors were important in East Timor's ability to achieve independence from Indonesia in 1999, these factors are tested in the secessionist cases of West Papua and Aceh. Unlike East Timor, the secessionist movements of West Papua and Aceh have not achieved independence from Indonesia. The presence of a cohesive group in these secessionist movements and third party support are tested against West Papua and Aceh to determine whether these secessionist movements are likely to achieve independence from Indonesia. The research shows that West Papua does not satisfy either condition. Aceh, however, has organized a cohesive group but has not gained third party support.

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