<![CDATA[The phenomenon of demonstrations is an important part of social and political dynamics that reflects the reciprocal relationship between law, society, and power. In the context of a state based on the rule of law, demonstrations are not only a means of conveying public aspirations, but also an indicator of the extent to which law is capable of functioning effectively in fulfilling society’s sense of justice. This study aims to analyze demonstrations as an indicator of legal effectiveness from the perspective of the school of legal realism and to examine how legislators’ responses reflect the application of the principles of legal realism in legislative practice. The research method employed is a qualitative-descriptive approach through a literature review of the main theories of legal realism, particularly the views of Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., Karl Llewellyn, and Jerome Frank, as well as an analysis of the phenomenon of demonstrations in Indonesia as relevant social data. The results of the study show that demonstrations can serve as a reflection of legal effectiveness because they indicate a gap between law in books and law in action. When society engages in demonstrations, this indicates that formal law is no longer aligned with the values of social justice prevailing within society. Furthermore, legislators’ responses to demonstrations serve as a measure of the extent to which legislative institutions understand law as a dynamic social phenomenon. In conclusion, from the perspective of legal realism, demonstrations function as a corrective mechanism against ineffective law and as a means of social control that strengthens the legitimacy of law through dialogue between the people and policymakers.]]>
