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Indonesian Law – Global Legal Collection Highlights

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This is the fourth post in our Global Legal Collection Highlights series, following posts on Russian law, Kuwait business law, and European Union law.  Be sure to let us know in the comments if there is a particular country that you would like us to cover in this series!

Detail of the doorway to the Indonesian Embassy in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Carol Highsmith; Source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division)

When I started working at the Law Library of Congress in 2009 I was given research assignments relating to Indonesian law.  This was a new area for me – although I had frequently seen news items on the country while living in New Zealand and had some basic general knowledge about it, I had not had the occasion to study Indonesian law.  Luckily for me, I could turn to a variety of resources to learn about the legal system and locate specific laws.  It is also a fascinating country so the research is often intriguing and rewarding!

The Law Library’s collection of Indonesian law materials is extensive.  This is aided by the fact that the Library of Congress Jakarta Office collects items that are published in the country itself, including by various government agencies as well as universities, etc.  While the majority of the books and other materials are in the Indonesian language (Bahasa Indonesia), there are some English translations of laws available as well as various English-language books that discuss different areas or features of Indonesia’s laws and legal system.

Embassy of Indonesia, Washington, D.C. (Photo by Carol Highsmith; Source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division)

Indonesia is the third largest democracy in the world (after India and the U.S.) and also the largest Muslim-majority nation, so there is considerable interest outside of the country in its laws, politics, and society.  Some of the recent English-language books in the Law Library’s collection reflect areas that are of particular interest.  For example:

In addition to searching our online catalog for more books on different areas of Indonesian law (try narrowing your search to English-language materials by using the “add limits to search results” button), you may find items of interest on the Law Library’s website, including articles, guides, and papers.  If you need further help with your research you can also contact us by submitting a request through our Ask a Librarian service.

Comments (2)

  1. I would like to know if Indonesia practices commun law or any other State of Rights.?

  2. Indonesia practices Civil Law adopted from the Former limits of Dutch colonial power in the region.

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