The Role of Customary Institutions in the Enforcement of Customary Law in the Modern Era

Rabiah. Z Harahap

Authors

Rabiah. Z Harahap Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara

Keywords:

Customary Institutions, Customary Law, Modern Era, Legal Pluralism, Customary Law Community

Abstract

Customary institutions constitute an essential component of Indonesia’s plural legal system, serving as traditional mechanisms for regulating social order and enforcing customary law within indigenous communities. However, the era of modernization and globalization has posed significant challenges to the sustainability and effectiveness of these institutions, particularly due to the dominance of positive law, socio-cultural transformation, and weakening regulatory support. This study aims to analyze the role of customary institutions in enforcing customary law in the modern era, identify factors affecting their effectiveness, and formulate strategies to strengthen their existence within the national legal system. The research employs a normative juridical method with a qualitative approach, utilizing literature review and secondary legal materials as the primary sources of data. The findings reveal that customary institutions continue to play a vital role in resolving disputes, preserving local wisdom, and maintaining social harmony in customary law communities. Nevertheless, their effectiveness has diminished as a result of modernization, urbanization, declining community compliance, and limited legal recognition. The study concludes that strengthening customary institutions requires institutional reinforcement, clearer regulatory frameworks, and synergistic integration between customary law and positive law. Such measures are necessary to ensure the realization of a balanced and just legal pluralism that acknowledges indigenous values while aligning with national legal development.

References

M. Fauzi and A. Haris, “Hukum adat dalam perspektif pluralisme hukum di Indonesia,” J. Rechts Vinding, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 231–248, 2021.

UUD, “Undang-Undang Dasar Negara Republik Indonesia Tahun 1945, Pasal 18B ayat (2).,” vol. 105, no. 3, pp. 129–133, 1945, [Online]. Available: https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:BDsuQOHoCi4J:https://media.neliti.com/media/publications/9138-ID-perlindungan-hukum-terhadap-anak-dari-konten-berbahaya-dalam-media-cetak-dan-ele.pdf+&cd=3&hl=id&ct=clnk&gl=id

I. N. Nurjaya, “Pembangunan Hukum Negara dalam Masyarakat Multikultural: Perspektif Hukum Progresif,” J. Huk. Progresif, no. Vol 3, No 2 (2007): Volume: 3/Nomor2/Oktober/2007, p. 16, 2007, [Online]. Available: https://ejournal.undip.ac.id/index.php/hukum_progresif/article/view/1065/pdf

J. Fitrah and M. Astuti, “Ketentuan Adat Alas Di Aceh Tenggara Tentang Perkawinan Semarga Abstrak,” vol. 2, pp. 28–34, 2024.

E. Susylawati, “Eksistensi Hukum Adat Dalam Sistem Hukum Di Indonesia,” AL-IHKAM J. Huk. Pranata Sos., vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 124–140, 2013, doi: 10.19105/al-lhkam.v4i1.267.

D. Yohana, M. Marbun, N. Rahma, I. Z. Sulasno, and F. Chrisanta, “Padjadjaran Law Padjadjaran Law,” vol. 9, 2021.

S. Zein, “Reformasi Agraria Dari Dulu Hingga Sekarang Di Indonesia,” J. Ilmu Huk. Dirgant., vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 121–135, 2019, [Online]. Available: https://indoprogress.com/2017/09/pengantar

S. Di et al., “PENYULUHAN HUKUM PIDANA PENYALAHGUNAAN MEDIA,” vol. 5, pp. 212–227, 2023, doi: 10.30656/ps2pm.v5i1.6756.

M. A. Saiful Millah and M. A. Asep Saepudin Jahar, Dualisme Hukum Perkawinan Islam Di Indonesia: Fiqh dan KHI. Amzah (Bumi Aksara), 2021. [Online]. Available: https://books.google.co.id/books?id=z4I_EAAAQBAJ

Fauzi, “PEMBERIAN HUKUMAN DALAM PERSPEKTIF PENDIDIKAN ISLAM Oleh: Muhammad Fauzi,” vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 31–36, 2016, doi: https://ejournal.stital.ac.id/index.php/alibrah/article/view/15.

D. F. O. R. Education and E. P. Committee, “Education and Skills 2030 : Conceptual learning framework,” 2018.

Sugiyono, “Metode Penelitian Kualitatif (Untuk penelitian yang bersifat: eksploratif, enterpretif, interaktif dan konstruktif),” Metod. Penelit. Kualitatif, p. 5, 2022, [Online]. Available: http://belajarpsikologi.com/metode-penelitian-kualitatif/

R. Bogdan, “Pengantar metoda penelitian kualitatif : suatu pendekatan fenomenologis terhadap ilmu-ilmu sosial/ oleh Robert Bogdan, Steven J. Taylor; alih bahasa Arief Furchan,” 1992. [Online]. Available: https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:180164258

H. Hadikusuma, Pengantar ilmu hukum adat Indonesia. Mandar Maju, 1992. [Online]. Available: https://books.google.co.id/books?id=AZbSAAAACAAJ

T. Sigiro, W. Sinaga, F. Tampubolon, and U. S. Utara, “Tindak Tutur Sebagai Strategi Komunikasi Dalam Adat Pra-Nikah Patampei Parsahapan Suku,” vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 11–23, 2024.

Z. Yang, W. Xu, Z. Yan, and M. D. Griffiths, “Problematic Social Media Use and Psychological Distress: A Symptom-Focused Network Analysis,” Int. J. Ment. Health Addict., 2025, doi: 10.1007/s11469-025-01446-w.

D. Andarini, H. Hidayat, and I. Hajar, “Tradisi Marpege-Pege Dalam Upacara Adat Perkawinan Batak Angkola Padangsidimpuan,” J. Antropol. Sumatera, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 56–58, 2019, [Online]. Available: https://jurnal.unimed.ac.id/2012/index.php/jas/article/view/20026

N. Saniah and A. Bastomi, “Acculturation of Traditional and Islamic Law in the Practice of Inheritance Distribution of the Mandailing Tribe of North Sumatra,” Fenomena, vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 255–270, 2022, doi: 10.35719/fenomena.v21i2.134.

L. Bakker, “Custom and violence in Indonesia’s protracted land conflict,” Soc. Sci. Humanit. Open, vol. 8, no. 1, p. 100624, 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.ssaho.2023.100624.

P. Manurung, “A Study of the Philosophy of Education and Analysis of the Principles of Implementing Education according to the Al-Qur ’ an,” vol. 105, no. 2, pp. 1–13, 2024.

Siregar Sarifa Yuliani, “Mangupa-upa Sebagai Sarana Untuk Membrikan Ungkapan Doa,Syukur, dan Harapan dalam Tradisi Masyarakat Batak Angkola di Kec. Padang Bolak. Kab. Padang Lawas Utara,” BERSATU J. Pendidik. Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, vol. Vol. 2, no. 2, p. hlm. 87, 2024, [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.51903/bersatu.v2i2.618

P. J. Pelupessy, P. Sciences, U. Islam, S. Utara, and U. Pattimura, “Construction of Religious Moderation Patterns among the Ocu Community in Kampar , Riau through the Modernization of Local Cultural Values : A Cultural and Religious Anthropology Perspective,” vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 858–867, 2025.