History and evolution

Originally established in 1978 as the Commission on Folk Law and Legal Pluralism, the Commission was founded by the International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences (IUAES) and affiliated with the International Association of Legal Science (IALS). The initiative, led by Professor Geert van den Steenhoven of the Institute of Folk Law at Nijmegen University, the Netherlands, set the stage for a transnational dialogue on legal diversity. Since January 2025, the Commission has operated independently, furthering its mission with renewed autonomy.

Mission and Scope

The Commission is dedicated to advancing both theoretical and practical understanding of legal pluralism. With a mailing list now exceeding 450 scholars, practitioners and social scientists from every region of the world, the organisation underscores the contemporary relevance of legal plurality. This phenomenon is not confined solely to countries with indigenous or minority populations - it is also increasingly evident within industrialised societies.

The Commission's mandate is to explore and address the complexities arising from the interaction of various legal systems, including:

   * State law
   * International and transnational law
   * Religious law
   * Customary or indigenous law

In doing so, it provides a vital forum for analysing the interplay between law, societal power relations, and the resolution of social challenges. 

Key activities

The Commission fosters interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration through a range of activities:

• International symposia or conferences: Regularly organised events that convene experts to deliberate on pressing themes in legal pluralism.
• Regional working groups: Initiates that encourage localised research and engagement across different parts of the world.
• Educational programmes: Courses and workshops designed to disseminate knowledge and cultivate practical skills in the study of legal pluralism.
• Scholarly publication: The peer-reviewed journal Legal Pluralism and Critical Social Analysis is published three times a year, contributing significant academic discourse to the field of legal pluralism.

Historical events

The Commission's scholarly activities are marked by a series of influential symposia and conferences:

• 1981 - Bellagio, Italy: Inaugural symposium on "State Institutions and their Use of Folk Law". 
• 1983 - Vancouver, Canada: Symposium on "The Actual and Legal Position of Ethnic and Cultural Minorities".
• 1986 - Tutzing, Germany & Sydney, Australia: Dual symposia on "Formal and Informal Social Security" and "Folk Law and Indigenous Rights - A Comparative Perspective".
• Subsequent events have been held in diverse locations, including Zagreb (Yugoslavia, 1988), in Ottawa (Canada, 1990), in Amsterdam (Netherlands, 1991), in Wellington (New Zealand, 1992), Mexico City (Mexico, 1993), Accra (Ghana, 1995), Moscow (Russia, 1997), Williamsburg (U.S.A. 1998), Arica (Chile, 2000), Chiang Mai (Thailand, 2002), Fredericton (Canada, 2004), Jakarta (Indonesia, 2006), Zurich (Switzerland, 2009), Cape Town (South Africa 2011), Manchester (UK, 2013), Mumbai (2015),  Ottawa (Canada 2018), and Lisbon (Portugal 2022). The latest conference convened in Jakarta, Indonesia, in 2025.

Membership

The Commission welcomes individuals with scholarly or practical interests in legal pluralism. Prospective members are encouraged to visit our Please visit our membership page for detailed information on the benefits of joining and the application process.