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Abstract

This paper is inspired by Franz von Benda-Beckmann’s notion of “bargaining in the shadow of legal pluralism” and applies this notion to spousal and child maintenance negotiations that take place between judges, husbands and wives within divorce processes at Indonesian Islamic courts. I will argue that in the context of Muslim family law practice in Indonesia, the legal plural situation does not only influence out-of-court negotiations, but formal legal processes within the Islamic courts as well. It follows Keebet von Benda-Beckmann’s example in analyzing the legal plural dynamics of women’s claiming process comprehensively, by investigating the interconnectedness of the pre-trial, trial and post-trial phases of the pos-divorce maintenance claiming process. I will show how the non-state normative frameworks that dominate claiming processes in the pre-trial and post-trial phases cast their shadow over judicial proceedings in the court room. The paper concludes that the weak normative and persuasive force that maintenance court orders have within the non-state normative frameworks of local communities correlates with how Islamic courts treat women’s post-divorce maintenance claims. The shadow of legal pluralism in this case means that women have a disadvantaged bargaining position vis-à-vis their husband when they attempt to claim their statutory post-divorce rights through a court process.

Bahasa Abstract

Makalah ini terinspirasi oleh gagasan Franz von Benda-Beckmann tentang “negotiating in the shadow of legal pluralism” dan menerapkan gagasan tersebut pada negosiasi mengeai nafkah istri dan anak yang belangsung antara hakim, suami, dan istri dalam gugatan nafkah di peradilan agama di Indonesia. Saya berargumen bahwa dalam konteks praktik hukum keluarga Islam di Indonesia, situasi hukum yang plural tidak hanya memengaruhi proses negosiasi di luar pengadilan, tetapi juga memengaruhi dinamika dari proses hukum itu sendiri.

Tulisan ini mengikuti pendekatan Keebet von Benda-Beckmann dalam menganalisis dinamika pluralisme hukum secara comprehensif, dengan menyelidiki keterkaitan antara fase pra-sidang, sidang, dan pasca-sidang, dalam proses gugatan nafkah oleh Perempuan bercerai. Saya akan menunjukkan bagaimana kerangka normatif non-negara yang mendominasi proses klaim dalam fase pra-sidang dan pasca-sidang turut membayangi jalannya proses peradilan di ruang sidang pengadilan agama.

Tulisan ini menunjukkan bahwa daya normatif dan daya persuasif dari putusan pengadilan mengenai nafkah sangat lemah dalam masyarakat lokal dan sebagai akibat putusan nafkah seringkali tidak diimplementasi. Analisa komprehensif mengenai dinamikika proses klaim kemudian menunjukan bahwa kesadaraan hakim akan lemahnya daya normatif dan persuasif tersebut berkorelasi langsung dengan cara peradilan agama memperlakukan gugatan nafkah pasca-cerai yang diajukan oleh perempuan. Dalam kasus ini, dapat disimpulkan bahwa bayang-bayang pluralisme hukum pada proses gugatan nafkah memiliki akibat bahwa perempuan berada dalam posisi tawar yang lemah dibandingkan suami mereka ketika mereka menggugat hak-hak atas nafkah pasca-cerai melalui proses pengadilan.

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