Indonesian law is a remarkably complex mixture of Dutch legislation, uniquely indigenous institutions and Islamic commandments. It is hoped that this book will clarify some of the dimensions of this complexity, and that it will help to fill the need for introductory materials in English. The book is organized loosely around a general theme of fundamental importance in Indonesia: the division of the country into “population groups” based on racial origin, and the legal pluralism which has resulted from this division. The national motto of Indonesia - Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, “Unity in Diversity” is in part a response to this division. In the first chapter we discuss the origins of legal pluralism. In Chapters 2-5 we focus on several substantive areas - marriage and divorce, agrarian law, mortgages, contract law - where pluralism has been especially important. In chapter 6 we describe the law of conflicts which developed in the 20th century as a result of legal pluralism. Finally, in chapter 7, we consider some of the efforts in the last several years to achieve unification.

In the first major work on Indonesian historiography to have appeared in any language, twenty-two outstanding scholars survey available source materials in Asia and Europe and discuss the current state of Indonesian historical scholarship, the approaches and methods that might be fruitful for future research, and the problems that confront Indonesian historians today. The contributions which can be made to historical studies by other disciplines - such as economics, sociology, anthropology, and international law - are discussed by specialists in these fields. Problems of Indonesian historiography are presented not only from points of view of the diff erent social sciences, but also from those of historians who differ in approach and interpretation from one another. This unique work, now brought back to life in Equinox Publishing's Classic Indonesia series, proves to be great value to historians and social scientists as an introduction to both sources for and diff erent approaches to the history of an important part of the world. Edited by one of Indonesia's leading scholars, Soedjatmoko, as well as Mohamad Ali, G.J. Resnik and George McT. Kahin, An Introduction to Indonesian Historiography features contributions from John Bastin, C.C. Berg, Buchari, J.C. Bottoms, C.R. Boxer, L. Ch. Damais, Hoesein Djajadiningrat, H.J. de Graf, Graham Irwan, Koichi Kishi, Koentjaraningrat, Ruth T. McVey, J. Noorduyn, J.M. Romein, R. Soekmono, Tjan Tjoe Som, F.J.E. Tan, W.F. Wertheim and P.J. Zoetmulder.

Traditional Javanese law of the pre- and early-colonial period does not draw upon the contents of recognized texts, but -- as preserved and often explained in those texts -- on maxims (sloka/saloka) containing the essence of law expressed in pithy, easily remembered phrases, many of which live on as modern Javanese proverbs.

The study of Islamic law can be a forbidding prospect for those entering the field for the first time. Wael Hallaq, a leading scholar and practitioner of Islamic law, guides students through the intricacies of the subject in this absorbing introduction. The first half of the book is devoted to a discussion of Islamic law in its pre-modern natural habitat. The second part explains how the law was transformed and ultimately dismantled during the colonial period. In the final chapters, the author charts recent developments and the struggles of the Islamists to negotiate changes which have seen the law emerge as a primarily textual entity focused on fixed punishments and ritual requirements. The book, which includes a chronology, a glossary of key terms, and lists of further reading, will be the first stop for those who wish to understand the fundamentals of Islamic law, its practices and history.