Symbolic Citizenship and Post-Marital Social Integration in Customary Law
Keywords:
customary law, symbolic citizenship, social integration, legal pluralism, Amali, legal anthropologyAbstract
The post-marriage tradition in Amali, South Sulawesi's indigenous peoples, is a symbolic legal mechanism that legitimizes social and spiritual membership for married individuals into the community. Two main rituals—pilgrimage to King Amali's tomb and face-washing in a mountain pool—serve as a form of customary acceptance of outsiders. Through a qualitative approach with a legal anthropological framework, this study explores how the rite functions as a non-state legal system that provides social legitimacy, community protection, and status recognition. Data were obtained through participatory observation, in-depth interviews, and local documentation. The findings suggest that Amali customary law regulates community membership through collectively recognized symbolic practices. This study enriches the discourse of legal pluralism and encourages recognizing the customary legal system as a source of justice and identity in a pluralistic society.
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