The Role of Customs Law in Law Enforcement: A Case Study of The Cham Ethnic Group in Vietnam

Abstract

The article investigates the factors affecting state law compliance in Cham minority communities in Vietnam. Using a legal pluralism framework, a cross-section survey was conducted with 200 adult respondents, and the study looked at five parameters: the role of Luật tục(custom legal system), cultural and religious traditions, socio-economic factors, local governance and mediation, and legal recognition and state policy. Data reliability was examined using Cronbach’s alpha, the construct validity was established using factor analysis, and the hypotheses were tested using Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis. The findings indicate that the five factors appear to be variables that have a significant and positive influence on state law compliance. The customary legal system and cultural traditions acted as facilitators for compliance by embedding ideas of legality into community practices. Socio-economics were weaker, but provided the option of the use of formal institutions. Local governance and mediation were strong intermediaries acting between the community and the state, while legal recognition and a state policy were the strongest predictors. The findings underscore important issues concerning recognition, inclusion of traditional forms of governance in current and future state policy across multi-ethnic contexts, and participatory governance.