How to 'Do' Legal Pluralism
Date
2007
Authors
Forsyth, Miranda
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Volume Title
Publisher
Social Science Research Network (SSRN)
Abstract
This paper presents a method of using the doctrine of legal pluralism as a tool for engaging in practical law reform in legally pluralist jurisdictions. To date, the theory of legal pluralism which, fundamentally, stresses the importance of recognising that non-state legal systems, such as customary or religious systems, may co-exist together with the state system, has been used primarily by scholars to produce descriptive and non-comparative work. This paper, however, demonstrates that the theory may be used to answer fundamental normative questions about the relationships of legal systems in a particular jurisdiction. It sets out a new process that any jurisdiction may use to maximise the chances that the various legal systems that co-exist within it will operate in ways that support and enrich each other, rather than undermine and compete with each other. It is based on a doctoral study that was conducted in Vanuatu, a small island state in the South Pacific, and uses examples drawn from that study.
Description
Keywords
Legal pluralism, non-state justice systems, customary law
Citation
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Source
SSRN Electronic Journal
Type
Journal article
Book Title
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Access Statement
Open Access