Changing Constellations of Legal Pluralism in West Sumatra, Indonesia (jointly with Prof. Franz von Benda-Beckmann)

The empirical research focuses mainly on Indonesia. The main theme concerns the shifting relationship between the various bodies of law: state law, customary law, called adat law, and religious law, both in its local variants and in its official form. The shift is on the one hand studied as a long-term historical process, in which phases of gradual adjustment alternate with phases of rapid change. Currently Indonesia goes through a period of rapid and fundamental political change, which has triggered off fierce debates about the role of each of the legal systems. This poses a unique and timely opportunity to study processes of socio-economic and political change about shifting constellations in a complex plural legal system, about a changing role of the state and its component organisations, and about the relationships of individuals, communities and the state. The project has two components:

Decentralisation of the State Administration: Consequences for Village Administration, Social Security and Resource Rights

In response to the increasing pressure from regions claiming more autonomy, and to the monetary and financial crisis of the mid 1990s, Indonesia has embarked on a major process of decentralisation. This policy is also enforced and supported by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank who wish to create a leaner, effective, responsible and more democratic administration. Bilateral donor agencies also support the policy; they see a possibility to bring about a form of governance that is closer to the local population. West Sumatra is one of the most advanced regions in this process, thus offering a good opportunity to study the social, political and legal consequences. The Minangkabau case is in particular interesting, as decentralisation coincides with a territorial restructuring of local administration. A first analysis of this process suggests that the effects reach far beyond a simple devolution of decision making powers to lower levels of authority. The so far strictly hierarchical structure of Indonesia's state administration seems to be developing into a one that combines hierarchical and horizontal features.