Journal of Adat Recht
Vol. 1 No. 6 (2025): MARCH-JOAR

Agrarian Conflict and Customary Land Rights: An Adat Law Perspective on Land Dispute Resolution

Loso Judijanto (IPOSS Jakarta)



Article Info

Publish Date
30 Mar 2025

Abstract

 Land disputes in Indonesia persist as a major issue, primarily arising from the conflict between the formal national legal system and the Indigenous legal traditions governing land ownership, particularly Adat Law. This research investigates agrarian conflicts, focusing on how traditional land rights (hak ulayat) often clash with the modern legal frameworks that dominate the national system. The study identifies the profound disconnect between state laws and the cultural practices of Indigenous communities, stressing the urgent need for a legal framework that honors both formal and customary law. Through the examination of current conflict cases, the research demonstrates that traditional conflict resolution methods rooted in Adat Law, with their emphasis on community consensus, offer a more sustainable and just approach compared to rigid state systems. The findings argue for the acknowledgment and legal incorporation of customary law in addressing land disputes, thereby protecting the land rights of Indigenous peoples. Furthermore, the study advocates for a transformation in national agrarian policies to establish a cohesive legal approach that respects and integrates both customary and formal legal systems, ultimately paving the way for a more inclusive and just agrarian reform process.

Copyrights © 2025






Journal Info

Abbrev

JOAR

Publisher

Subject

Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice

Description

Journal of Adat Recht is a journal with the theme of Legal Science, with benefits and objectives for the development of Legal Science, by prioritising the originality, specificity and recency of articles in each issue. The purpose of the publication of this Journal is to provide space to publish ...