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  • © 2018

Law Reform in Plural Societies

  • First ever to investigate suitable law reform processes for pluralist societies
  • Discusses how a ‘local jurisprudence’ could support law reform
  • Examines codification and restatement in law reform
  • Addresses legal transplants and law reform
  • Describes customary law and state law - accommodation through law reform

Part of the book series: The World of Small States (WSS, volume 2)

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Table of contents (7 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xix
  2. Introduction

    • Teleiai Lalotoa Mulitalo Ropinisone Silipa Seumanutafa
    Pages 1-9
  3. Law Reform and Legal Pluralism Developments

    • Teleiai Lalotoa Mulitalo Ropinisone Silipa Seumanutafa
    Pages 11-33
  4. A Research Methodology for the Pacific

    • Teleiai Lalotoa Mulitalo Ropinisone Silipa Seumanutafa
    Pages 35-48
  5. The Value of Law Reform: Social and Cultural

    • Teleiai Lalotoa Mulitalo Ropinisone Silipa Seumanutafa
    Pages 49-68
  6. State Focused Law Reform: Constitutional Offices, Institutions and Agents

    • Teleiai Lalotoa Mulitalo Ropinisone Silipa Seumanutafa
    Pages 69-127
  7. Towards Responsive Law Reform

    • Teleiai Lalotoa Mulitalo Ropinisone Silipa Seumanutafa
    Pages 129-168
  8. A Suitable Law Reform Framework for Pluralist Countries

    • Teleiai Lalotoa Mulitalo Ropinisone Silipa Seumanutafa
    Pages 169-189
  9. Back Matter

    Pages 191-196

About this book

This book asserts that the Pacific Islands continue to struggle with the colonial legacy of plural legal systems, comprising  laws and legal institutions from both the common law and the customary legal system. It also investigates the extent to which customary principles and values are accommodated in legislation. Focusing on Samoa, the author argues that South Pacific countries continue to adopt a Western approach to law reform without considering legal pluralism, which often results in laws which are unsuitable and irrelevant to Samoa. In the context of this system of law making, effective law reform in Samoa can only be achieved where the law reform process recognises the legitimacy of the two primary legal systems.  The book goes on to present a law reform process that is more relevant and suitable for law making in the Pacific Islands or any post-colonial societies.

Authors and Affiliations

  • TC Beirne School of Law, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia

    Teleiai Lalotoa Mulitalo Ropinisone Silipa Seumanutafa

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access