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Community Legal Empowerment and Local Justice Practices: A Comparative Study of Indonesia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, India, Spain, and Iran

Jurnal Pengabdian Hukum Indonesia (Indonesian Journal of Legal Community Engagement) JPHI · Vol. 9 No. 2 (2026) · pp. 543–588

DOI
10.15294/jphi.v9i2.46364
ISSN
2654-8313, 2654-8305
Published
2026-10-01
Publisher
Universitas Negeri Semarang
Language
eng
License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0

Abstract

The relationship between formal justice systems and community-based justice remains critical to strengthening access to justice and legal empowerment across diverse socio-legal contexts. Penal culture, characterized by an emphasis on punishment, deterrence, and formal enforcement, may constrain community participation and limit restorative and participatory approaches to justice. This article examines how penal culture influences community legal empowerment and local justice practices through a comparative socio-legal analysis of Indonesia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, India, Spain, and Iran. The study focuses on three interrelated dimensions: legal education and awareness, community assistance and capacity building, and community-based mechanisms for preventing and resolving disputes. Using a comparative case-based approach, the study analyzes interactions between formal legal institutions and local justice practices, including customary dispute resolution, community mediation, legal aid, and paralegal initiatives. The findings reveal a common tension across the five jurisdictions between formal enforcement and community expectations of accessible, responsive, and legitimate justice, despite differences in legal traditions and socio-cultural contexts. Legal education, community assistance, and capacity building can strengthen community participation and improve the ability of local actors to navigate formal and informal justice mechanisms. The study argues that community legal empowerment requires a shift from predominantly punitive approaches toward participatory, restorative, and people-centred justice. By identifying common patterns and contextual differences, this comparative analysis contributes to socio-legal scholarship and provides practical insights for developing more inclusive community-based justice systems.

Keywords

Collaboration network of the authors

13 authors · 31 co-authorship links · 6 across different organisations

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  • State University of Semarang
  • International University of Sarajevo
  • South Asian University
  • Yazd University
  • Affiliation unknown
  • Different organisations
  • Same organisation
  • Affiliation unknown
  • Thicker line = more joint articles · bigger circle = more articles
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Co-authorOrganisationJoint articles
Suwito Eko PramonoState University of Semarang1
Syaiful AminState University of Semarang1
Budi Argap SitungkirState University of Semarang1
Dina Silvia PuteriState University of Semarang1
Irawaty IrawatyState University of Semarang1
R. Benny RiyantoState University of Semarang1
Nurul FibriantiState University of Semarang1
Wahyudin WahyudinState University of Semarang1

Affiliations come from OpenAlex; journal OAI-PMH metadata carries none. Authors without an OpenAlex ID are matched by name, which can merge or split people.

Metadata source: OAI-PMH (metadata jurnal) https://journal.unnes.ac.id/journals/JPHI/oai, first harvested 5 Nov 2026, last seen 8 Nov 2026.
Original metadata (oai_dc) 
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	<dc:title xml:lang="en">Community Legal Empowerment and Local Justice Practices: A Comparative Study of Indonesia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, India, Spain, and Iran</dc:title>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Arifin, Ridwan</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Kazić-Çakar, Ena</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Haseeb, Abdul</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Sebastian, Valerio</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Hekmatimoghadam, Seyedmohsen</dc:creator>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Legal Empowerment</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Penal Culture</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Community-Based Justice</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Legal Education</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Restorative Justice</dc:subject>
	<dc:description xml:lang="en">The relationship between formal justice systems and community-based justice remains critical to strengthening access to justice and legal empowerment across diverse socio-legal contexts. Penal culture, characterized by an emphasis on punishment, deterrence, and formal enforcement, may constrain community participation and limit restorative and participatory approaches to justice. This article examines how penal culture influences community legal empowerment and local justice practices through a comparative socio-legal analysis of Indonesia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, India, Spain, and Iran. The study focuses on three interrelated dimensions: legal education and awareness, community assistance and capacity building, and community-based mechanisms for preventing and resolving disputes. Using a comparative case-based approach, the study analyzes interactions between formal legal institutions and local justice practices, including customary dispute resolution, community mediation, legal aid, and paralegal initiatives. The findings reveal a common tension across the five jurisdictions between formal enforcement and community expectations of accessible, responsive, and legitimate justice, despite differences in legal traditions and socio-cultural contexts. Legal education, community assistance, and capacity building can strengthen community participation and improve the ability of local actors to navigate formal and informal justice mechanisms. The study argues that community legal empowerment requires a shift from predominantly punitive approaches toward participatory, restorative, and people-centred justice. By identifying common patterns and contextual differences, this comparative analysis contributes to socio-legal scholarship and provides practical insights for developing more inclusive community-based justice systems.</dc:description>
	<dc:publisher xml:lang="en">Universitas Negeri Semarang</dc:publisher>
	<dc:date>2026-10-01</dc:date>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/article</dc:type>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion</dc:type>
	<dc:format>application/pdf</dc:format>
	<dc:identifier>https://journal.unnes.ac.id/journals/JPHI/article/view/46364</dc:identifier>
	<dc:identifier>10.15294/jphi.v9i2.46364</dc:identifier>
	<dc:source xml:lang="en">Jurnal Pengabdian Hukum Indonesia (Indonesian Journal of Legal Community Engagement) JPHI; Vol. 9 No. 2 (2026): July-December, 2026; 543-588</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2654-8313</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2654-8305</dc:source>
	<dc:source>10.15294/jphi.v9i2</dc:source>
	<dc:language>eng</dc:language>
	<dc:relation>https://journal.unnes.ac.id/journals/JPHI/article/view/46364/11618</dc:relation>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">Copyright (c) 2026 Ridwan Arifin, Ena Kazić-Çakar, Abdul Haseeb, Valerio Sebastian, Seyedmohsen Hekmatimoghadam (Author)</dc:rights>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0</dc:rights>
</oai_dc:dc>