‘Constellations’ and ‘Entanglement’ in The Study of Legal Pluralism: Reflections on The Scholarship of Keebet Von Benda-Beckmann

Authors

Petra K. Mahy Dr, Monash University, AustraliaFollow

Abstract

Two key terms permeate the work of Keebet von Benda-Beckmann (and of her co-authors, especially Franz von Benda-Beckmann) in her discussions of legal pluralism: ‘constellations’ and ‘entanglement’. These terms are both concerned with describing the existence of, and interrelationships between, plural legal orders. This article critically analyses these two terms, their usage and implied meanings, and compares them with other alternative concepts employed elsewhere in legal pluralism and cognate literature. With reference to empirical evidence on plural work regulation in Indonesia, I argue that the terms have some descriptive benefits for understanding the realities of plural legal orders, but still leaves many aspects under-theorised.

Bahasa Abstract

Terdapat dua istilah kunci dalam karya Keebet von Benda-Beckmann (dan dalam karya rekan-rekan penulisnya, khususnya Franz von Benda-Beckmann) dalam diskusinya mengenai pluralisme hukum, yaitu: ‘constellations’ (‘konstelasi’) dan ‘entanglement’ (‘keterikatan’). Kedua istilah ini berkaitan dengan deskripsi keberadaan dan hubungan timbal balik antar sistem hukum plural. Artikel ini secara kritis menganalisis kedua istilah tersebut, penggunaan dan makna tersiratnya, serta membandingkannya dengan konsep-konsep alternatif lain yang digunakan dalam literatur mengenai pluralisme hukum dan literatur serumpun. Mengacu pada bukti empiris mengenai regulasi kerja plural di Indonesia, penulis berpendapat bahwa istilah-istilah tersebut mempunyai beberapa manfaat deskriptif untuk memahami realitas tatanan hukum plural. Namun demikian masih terdapat beberapa aspek yang belum diteorikan.

References

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Recommended Citation

Mahy, Petra K. Dr (2024) "‘Constellations’ and ‘Entanglement’ in The Study of Legal Pluralism: Reflections on The Scholarship of Keebet Von Benda-Beckmann," The Indonesian Journal of Socio-Legal Studies: Vol. 4: No. 1, Article 1.
DOI: 10.54828/ijsls.2024v4n1.1
Available at: https://scholarhub.ui.ac.id/ijsls/vol4/iss1/1