Legal Pluralism in Adat Land Conflict Resolution: Case Study of Eastern Indonesia

Abstract

This article examines legal pluralism in Indonesia relating to customary 'Adat' law. The case study research was conducted in the Manggarai area of Eastern Indonesia where Adat law is prevalent in resolving conflicts, alongside the national legal system. The article discusses in-depth, whether Indonesia's legal system effectively acknowledges the plural systems of law in use. By examining how these two systems of law are implemented, the article shows how customary systems are being used to resolve land conflict in the case of Manggarai. This study combines both a qualitative review of the literature and a case approach method to examine the five types of Adat land conflict in Manggarai in East Indonesia. The research findings show that in both theoretical literatures, as well as in the case studies of Manggarai, Adat law is acknowledged by the Indonesian legal system and also in the local community. This research is a useful reference for land conflicts in other areas where legal pluralism is in use.