The concept of the multiverse is a hypothetical theory, popularized through fiction, that posits the existence of multiple alternative realities existing alongside the one we inhabit. Although fictional in origin, such analogies are increasingly accepted in international discourse because they provide accessible ways to explain complex systems across cultures and legal traditions. For example, in 2016, the President of Indonesia borrowed the phrase “Winter is Coming” from Game of Thrones to describe looming global economic challenges. Likewise, former U.S. President Barack Obama frequently employed popular culture references in international speeches to communicate political ideas more effectively.
This article adopts the multiverse metaphor to illustrate the multiple dimensions or “universes” that coexist within the Indonesian legal system.
The First Universe: Civil Law
The civil law universe governs legal relationships among individuals, families, and business entities. Indonesian legal scholar Wirjono Prodjodikoro defines civil law as the body of legal rules regulating the rights and obligations of individuals and legal entities.
A defining characteristic of civil law is the formal nature of legal relationships. Written agreements and documentary evidence play a central role because they become the primary basis for resolving disputes before the courts. Civil law is founded upon the principles of pacta sunt servanda—that agreements must be honored—and good faith, meaning that contracts are legally binding upon the parties. When disputes arise, courts resolve them by applying principles of formal justice, based primarily on legally recognized evidence and contractual obligations.
The Second Universe: Criminal Law
The criminal law universe is a branch of public law that directly affects everyday life. It covers conduct ranging from traffic violations and the sale of prohibited goods to serious offenses such as murder, corruption, and terrorism.
According to Pompe, criminal law consists of legal rules that determine which acts constitute criminal offenses and prescribe the corresponding punishments. Unlike civil law, criminal law focuses on establishing material facts through evidence. For example, a victim of theft must demonstrate when and where the theft occurred, what property was taken, and who committed the offense. These facts are reconstructed through witness testimony, physical evidence, and other legally admissible proof.
The primary objective of criminal law is to protect society from crime. Its cornerstone is the principle of legality (nullum crimen, nulla poena sine praevia lege poenali): no one may be convicted or punished for an act that was not criminalized by law before it was committed.
The Third Universe: Administrative Law
Administrative law governs the exercise of governmental authority and the functioning of public administration.
J.P. Muchsan defines administrative law as the body of law regulating the duties, functions, powers, and limitations of state administrative officials. It concerns governmental decisions and policies, whether issued by central or regional authorities, that affect individuals or the public at large, including matters such as infrastructure development, licensing, public services, and the appointment or dismissal of civil servants.
Citizens who are adversely affected by administrative decisions may challenge them before the administrative courts to ensure that government actions comply with applicable legal procedures.
A fundamental principle of Indonesian administrative law is the General Principles of Good Governance (Asas-Asas Umum Pemerintahan yang Baik, AUPB), as codified in Law No. 30 of 2014 on Government Administration. These principles require government actions to uphold legal certainty, public benefit, impartiality, accuracy, transparency, the public interest, and high-quality public service.
The Fourth Universe: Constitutional Law
Constitutional law governs the fundamental organization of the state. It defines the structure of government, allocates powers among state institutions, and establishes the constitutional framework within which all other laws operate.
According to Cornelis van Vollenhoven, constitutional law regulates the organization of superior and subordinate legal communities according to their respective levels and determines the authority and responsibilities of state institutions.
Its principal sources include the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia (Undang-Undang Dasar 1945) and all legislation derived from it. Constitutional law establishes the institutional architecture of the state and delineates the constitutional powers of each public institution.
Legal Universes and National Development
Among these four legal universes, three interact most directly with the public: civil law, criminal law, and administrative law. Their relative prominence may also reflect a country’s stage of development.
Development theories, including Rostow’s Stages of Economic Growth and Neoclassical Growth Theory, examine how societies progress from lower to higher levels of economic and institutional development. Similarly, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) classify countries according to Gross National Income (GNI) per capita into low-, middle-, and high-income economies.
Viewed through this perspective, legal development often accompanies economic and social transformation. In less-developed societies, legal institutions tend to emphasize criminal law because maintaining public order and security is the most immediate concern. As countries enter the middle-income stage, citizens increasingly engage with both criminal law and civil law as commercial activity expands and contractual relationships become more significant.
In advanced economies, societal values often evolve toward post-materialism, where concerns extend beyond economic survival to include freedom of expression, individual rights, environmental protection, quality of life, and accountable governance. Consequently, administrative law assumes a more prominent role as citizens demand transparency, fairness, and responsible public administration, while civil and criminal law continue to evolve alongside these changing social priorities.
Conclusion
This article pursues three objectives.
First, it seeks to reinforce the legal principle that everyone is presumed to know the law (ignorantia juris non excusat) by helping readers identify the legal “universe” relevant to a particular issue.
Second, it provides an introductory framework for students, practitioners, business actors, and public officials seeking a clearer understanding of Indonesia’s legal system. Third, it proposes that the interaction among these legal universes offers a useful lens for understanding patterns of litigation, institutional development, and broader national progress. Together, these legal universes demonstrate that the Indonesian legal system is not a single, uniform body of rules but a collection of interconnected legal dimensions, each serving a distinct function in maintaining justice, order, and constitutional governance.
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