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Customary Law for Equitable Spatial Planning: Preventing Social Bankruptcy and Enhancing Community Welfare

Muhammad Ali Adnan(1email), Atika Sunarto(2), Azizan Khair(3)


(1) Faculty of Law, Universitas Prima Indonesia, Medan, Indonesia orcid
(2) Faculty of Law, Universitas Prima Indonesia, Medan, Indonesia orcid
(3) Faculty of Law, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia
email Corresponding Author
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Abstract


Introduction: This study examines the role of customary law as an instrument for equitable spatial planning in preventing socio-economic bankruptcy and enhancing the welfare of indigenous communities in Indonesia. As a living and dynamic legal system, customary law embodies values of ecological balance, deliberation, and restrictions on land conversion without community consent. However, in practice, many regional spatial planning policies have failed to integrate customary norms, resulting in spatial conflicts and social disintegration.

Purposes of the Research:  The research aims to analyze how customary law can serve as both a normative and practical foundation for equitable spatial planning, and how integrating local values can prevent social bankruptcy while strengthening the welfare of indigenous peoples.

Methods of the Research: This study employs a normative-juridical approach combined with socio-legal analysis to examine the interaction between statutory law and customary practices in spatial management, supported by case studies of customary land conflicts in Salang Tungir Village (Deli Serdang Regency) and Aras Napal Village (Langkat Regency).

Results of the Research: Findings indicate that neglecting customary law norms in spatial planning leads to the loss of community access to productive spaces, weakens local economies, and triggers social conflicts. Conversely, applying customary law in spatial planning—through recognition of customary rights, consent mechanisms, and active community participation—fosters spatial justice and enhances community welfare. This study introduces the concept of “customary law-based spatial planning,” which integrates local values with principles of social and ecological justice in national spatial planning policies, offering a framework for more inclusive and sustainable development.

Keywords


Customary Law; Spatial Planning; Social Bankruptcy; Community Welfare.


DOI


10.47268/sasi.v32i1.3467

Published


2026-03-07

How To Cite


APA: Adnan, M.A., Sunarto, A., & Khair, A. (2026). Customary Law for Equitable Spatial Planning: Preventing Social Bankruptcy and Enhancing Community Welfare. SASI, 32(1), 14-29. DOI: https://doi.org/10.47268/sasi.v32i1.3467.
IEEE: M.A. Adnan, A. Sunarto, and A. Khair, "Customary Law for Equitable Spatial Planning: Preventing Social Bankruptcy and Enhancing Community Welfare", SASI, vol. 32, no. 1, pp. 14-29, Mar. 2026. Accessed on: Mar. 8, 2026. [Online]. Available DOI: https://doi.org/10.47268/sasi.v32i1.3467
Harvard: Adnan, M.A., Sunarto, A., and Khair, A., (2026). "Customary Law for Equitable Spatial Planning: Preventing Social Bankruptcy and Enhancing Community Welfare". SASI, Volume 32(1), pp. 14-29. [Online]. Available DOI: https://doi.org/10.47268/sasi.v32i1.3467 (Accessed on: 8 March 2026)
Chicago: Adnan, Muhammad Ali, Atika Sunarto, and Azizan Khair. "Customary Law for Equitable Spatial Planning: Preventing Social Bankruptcy and Enhancing Community Welfare." SASI 32, no. 1 (March 7, 2026): 14-29. Accessed March 8, 2026. doi:10.47268/sasi.v32i1.3467
Vancouver: Adnan MA, Sunarto A, Khair A. Customary Law for Equitable Spatial Planning: Preventing Social Bankruptcy and Enhancing Community Welfare. SASI [Internet]. 2026 Mar 7 [cited 2026 Mar 8];32(1):14-29. Available from: https://doi.org/10.47268/sasi.v32i1.3467
MLA 8th: Adnan, Muhammad Ali, Atika Sunarto, and Azizan Khair. "Customary Law for Equitable Spatial Planning: Preventing Social Bankruptcy and Enhancing Community Welfare." SASI, vol. 32, no. 1, 7 Mar. 2026, pp. 14-29, doi:10.47268/sasi.v32i1.3467. Accessed 8 Mar. 2026.
BibTeX: 
@article{SASI3467,
		author = {Muhammad Adnan and Atika Sunarto and Azizan Khair},
		title = {Customary Law for Equitable Spatial Planning: Preventing Social Bankruptcy and Enhancing Community Welfare},
		journal = {SASI},
		volume = {32},
		number = {1},
		year = {2026},
		keywords = {Customary Law; Spatial Planning; Social Bankruptcy; Community Welfare.},
		abstract = {Introduction: This study examines the role of customary law as an instrument for equitable spatial planning in preventing socio-economic bankruptcy and enhancing the welfare of indigenous communities in Indonesia. As a living and dynamic legal system, customary law embodies values of ecological balance, deliberation, and restrictions on land conversion without community consent. However, in practice, many regional spatial planning policies have failed to integrate customary norms, resulting in spatial conflicts and social disintegration.Purposes of the Research:  The research aims to analyze how customary law can serve as both a normative and practical foundation for equitable spatial planning, and how integrating local values can prevent social bankruptcy while strengthening the welfare of indigenous peoples.Methods of the Research: This study employs a normative-juridical approach combined with socio-legal analysis to examine the interaction between statutory law and customary practices in spatial management, supported by case studies of customary land conflicts in Salang Tungir Village (Deli Serdang Regency) and Aras Napal Village (Langkat Regency).Results of the Research: Findings indicate that neglecting customary law norms in spatial planning leads to the loss of community access to productive spaces, weakens local economies, and triggers social conflicts. Conversely, applying customary law in spatial planning—through recognition of customary rights, consent mechanisms, and active community participation—fosters spatial justice and enhances community welfare. This study introduces the concept of “customary law-based spatial planning,” which integrates local values with principles of social and ecological justice in national spatial planning policies, offering a framework for more inclusive and sustainable development.},
				issn = {2614-2961},		pages = {14--29}			doi = {10.47268/sasi.v32i1.3467},
				url = {https://fhukum.unpatti.ac.id/jurnal/sasi/article/view/3467}
		}
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Dublin Core PKP Metadata Items Metadata for this Document
 
1. Title Title of document Customary Law for Equitable Spatial Planning: Preventing Social Bankruptcy and Enhancing Community Welfare
 
2. Creator Author's name, affiliation, country Muhammad Ali Adnan; Faculty of Law, Universitas Prima Indonesia, Medan; Indonesia orcid
 
2. Creator Author's name, affiliation, country Atika Sunarto; Faculty of Law, Universitas Prima Indonesia, Medan; Indonesia orcid
 
2. Creator Author's name, affiliation, country Azizan Khair; Faculty of Law, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan; Indonesia
 
3. Subject Discipline(s)
 
3. Subject Keyword(s) Customary Law; Spatial Planning; Social Bankruptcy; Community Welfare.
 
4. Description Abstract Introduction: This study examines the role of customary law as an instrument for equitable spatial planning in preventing socio-economic bankruptcy and enhancing the welfare of indigenous communities in Indonesia. As a living and dynamic legal system, customary law embodies values of ecological balance, deliberation, and restrictions on land conversion without community consent. However, in practice, many regional spatial planning policies have failed to integrate customary norms, resulting in spatial conflicts and social disintegration.Purposes of the Research:  The research aims to analyze how customary law can serve as both a normative and practical foundation for equitable spatial planning, and how integrating local values can prevent social bankruptcy while strengthening the welfare of indigenous peoples.Methods of the Research: This study employs a normative-juridical approach combined with socio-legal analysis to examine the interaction between statutory law and customary practices in spatial management, supported by case studies of customary land conflicts in Salang Tungir Village (Deli Serdang Regency) and Aras Napal Village (Langkat Regency).Results of the Research: Findings indicate that neglecting customary law norms in spatial planning leads to the loss of community access to productive spaces, weakens local economies, and triggers social conflicts. Conversely, applying customary law in spatial planning—through recognition of customary rights, consent mechanisms, and active community participation—fosters spatial justice and enhances community welfare. This study introduces the concept of “customary law-based spatial planning,” which integrates local values with principles of social and ecological justice in national spatial planning policies, offering a framework for more inclusive and sustainable development.
 
5. Publisher Organizing agency, location Faculty of Law, Universitas Pattimura
 
6. Contributor Sponsor(s)
 
7. Date (YYYY-MM-DD) 2026-03-07
 
8. Type Status & genre Peer-reviewed Article
 
8. Type Type
 
9. Format File format PDF
 
10. Identifier Uniform Resource Identifier https://fhukum.unpatti.ac.id/jurnal/sasi/article/view/3467
 
10. Identifier Digital Object Identifier 10.47268/sasi.v32i1.3467
 
11. Source Title; vol., no. (year) SASI; Volume 32 Issue 1, March 2026 (In Progress Issue)
 
12. Language English=en en
 
13. Relation Supp. Files Customary Law as an Instrument For Equitable Spatial Planning: Efforts to Prevent Social Bankruptcy and Promote Community Welfare (52KB)
 
14. Coverage Geo-spatial location, chronological period, research sample (gender, age, etc.)
 
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Copyright (c) 2026 Muhammad Ali Adnan, Atika Sunarto, Azizan Khair

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