Focus and Scope
Focus
SASI is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access journal published by the Faculty of Law, Universitas Pattimura, Indonesia. The journal is dedicated specifically to advancing scholarly research on Customary Law as a dynamic and evolving field of legal study across societies and jurisdictions worldwide.
SASI examines the principles, development, recognition, application, interpretation, transformation, and contemporary relevance of Customary Law. The journal considers Customary Law as a living legal order that may regulate social relations, governance, justice, dispute resolution, community affairs, land and natural resources, cultural practices, environmental stewardship, and other aspects of collective life.
The journal provides a specialized scholarly forum for research on Customary Law and its interaction with state law, religious law, international law, Indigenous Legal Systems, and other legal or normative orders. SASI welcomes scholarship that critically examines how customary legal norms and institutions are formed, recognized, applied, challenged, adapted, transformed, and transmitted within changing legal, social, cultural, political, economic, and environmental contexts.
SASI has a global geographical scope. The journal welcomes research on Customary Law from any country, region, jurisdiction, or legal tradition. Research may focus on a particular customary legal system or community, examine Customary Law within a specific jurisdiction, compare customary legal traditions across societies, or address broader theoretical and conceptual questions concerning Customary Law.
Scope
SASI welcomes original research articles, review articles, and conceptual papers that make a substantive contribution to the study of Customary Law. The scope includes, but is not limited to, the following areas:
1. Customary Law: Principles, Norms, and Institutions
Research examining the principles, concepts, sources, norms, institutions, structures, functions, recognition, interpretation, development, revitalization, and contemporary application of Customary Law.
2. Customary Law and Legal Pluralism
Research examining the interaction between Customary Law and state law, religious law, Indigenous Legal Systems, international law, and other normative orders, including legal coexistence, recognition, harmonization, conflict, institutional interaction, and legal transformation.
3. Customary Law, Governance, Justice, and Dispute Resolution
Research on customary governance, customary institutions, customary justice, community-based justice, customary dispute resolution, access to justice, authority, leadership, social order, and the role of Customary Law in regulating community relations.
4. Customary Law, Land, Natural Resources, and the Environment
Research examining Customary Law in relation to land and territorial rights, agrarian relations, natural resource governance, environmental protection, climate change, traditional ecological knowledge, community-based resource management, conservation, and sustainable development.
5. Customary Law and Contemporary Legal Development
Research examining the continuing relevance and transformation of Customary Law in contemporary legal systems, including its relationship with constitutional law, private law, criminal law, human rights, public policy, economic activities, technological and digital developments, law reform, and other emerging legal issues.
6. Comparative and Interdisciplinary Studies of Customary Law
Comparative, empirical, socio-legal, anthropological, historical, theoretical, normative, and interdisciplinary research that advances understanding of Customary Law across different societies, jurisdictions, legal traditions, and historical contexts.
Editorial Statement
SASI welcomes contributions from scholars, researchers, legal practitioners, judges, policymakers, and other professionals worldwide whose research makes a substantive contribution to the study of Customary Law.
The journal does not restrict its research scope to any particular country, region, or legal tradition. Manuscripts may examine Customary Law within a single jurisdiction or community, or adopt comparative, cross-jurisdictional, theoretical, empirical, socio-legal, anthropological, historical, or interdisciplinary approaches.
Priority is given to manuscripts that demonstrate clear scholarly contribution, sound methodology, rigorous analysis, and meaningful engagement with the relevant literature on Customary Law. Comparative or international perspectives are welcomed where appropriate, but a manuscript is not required to compare multiple jurisdictions in order to be considered for publication.
Through rigorous peer review and international scholarly dialogue, SASI aims to contribute to the continuing development of knowledge on Customary Law and to deepen understanding of its role, transformation, recognition, and interaction with other legal and normative orders across jurisdictions worldwide.
