Being a home to more than 80 ethnic groups, Ethiopia has to balance
normative diversity with efforts to implement state law across its
territory. This volume explores the co-existence of state, customary,
and religious legal forums from the perspective of legal practitioners
and local justice seekers. It shows how the various stakeholders' use of
negotiation, and their strategic application of law can lead to unwanted
confusion, but also to sustainable conflict resolution, innovative new
procedures and hybrid norms. The book thus generates important knowledge
on the conditions necessary for stimulating a cooperative co-existence
of different legal systems.