Legal Pluralism and Jurisdictional Layering in Peripheral VOC Padang, 1666–1781

Dedi Arsa, Sucia Zonicha — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 09:27:01 +0000

This article examines how jurisdictional layering, a form of legal pluralism, operated in VOC Padang (1666–1781). We define “operation of legal pluralism” as the structured coexistence of multiple legal authorities (e.g. adat councils and colonial courts) governing different case types. By comparing Padang’s framework to other VOC settlements (e.g. Batavia, Maluku), we highlight how unique local arrangements emerged under limited colonial coercion. Drawing on VOC correspondence, judicial records, and contemporary accounts, the study reconstructs interactions between the Raad van Justitie, Minangkabau adat leaders, and Islamic institutions. It demonstrates that colonial governance in Padang functioned through segmented legal domains: intra-nagari disputes were frequently resolved through restitution and consensus-based adjudication, whereas cases involving commercial security or Company interests were brought before formal colonial courts. This arrangement did not constitute a transitional phase toward legal centralization. Rather, it represented a structurally necessary configuration in a peripheral colonial setting characterized by limited coercive capacity and reliance on indigenous leadership. By situating Padang within broader debates on legal pluralism and imperial sovereignty, the article refines the concept of jurisdictional layering and shows that overlapping legal orders operated as a calibrated distribution of authority, legitimacy, and coercion across multiple legal spheres.

Diakronika

Legal Pluralism and Jurisdictional Layering in Peripheral VOC Padang, 1666–1781