Rechtsveranderingen in Minangkabau

Samenvatting

Through an analysis of legal change in Minangkabau, West Sumatra, a contribution is offered to the anthropological/historical study of Indonesian local law. Developments in the property law of this matrilineal society during the past 160 years are described. The true picture of local 'adatlaw' (unwritten law) in seen to have been distorted by Dutch juridical thinking. This distortion has also influenced social scientists' interpretations of social change in Minangkabau. It is noted that an image of radical social change in the property & matrilineal systems has been created that does not do justice to the changes that have already occurred. Modified HA.