Law Commons^™

Legal Pluralism And The Rule Of Law: Can Indigenous Justice Survive?, David Pimentel

David Pimentel

The clash between modern statutory justice systems and the traditional systems of indigenous communities is not on a level playing field. Even where legal pluralism is formally recognized, the conflict threatens the continued relevance of customary law. If these non-Western legal systems are to maintain their relevance and vitality, if they are even to have a place in the new global community, those agencies and individuals engaged in promoting the rule of law, economic development, or respect for human rights must resist the impulse to simply impose the Western laws and legal institutions. Instead, reform-minded agencies and individuals should seek …