MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM – In the midst of rapid social change, law often appears as a symbol of order and legal certainty. Laws are continuously enacted, state institutions are strengthened, and various reforms are promoted in the name of justice enforcement. However, behind this seemingly stable legal structure lies a reality that does not always align with legal provisions. For many people, especially vulnerable groups and ordinary citizens, the law often feels distant, complex, and difficult to access. This raises a fundamental question that repeatedly concerns public awareness: why is it that a legal system, which is essentially created to protect, does not always succeed in delivering perceived justice?
This question forms the starting point of the book "Sociology of Law and Social Transformation," a work that offers a fresh perspective on the relationship between law and social reality. Published by Pustaka Kita Yogyakarta in 2026, the book consists of xiv + 274 pages and is intended not only as an academic reference but also as a window into understanding how law operates within a changing society.
Written by Farid Wajdi, Ismail Lubis, and Khairunnisa Rezeki Ramadhani Wajdi Lubis, the book invites readers to view law not merely as a collection of formal rules.
Law Between Order and Social RealityThrough a precise and empirically grounded analysis of Indonesian reality, the authors demonstrate that law never exists in isolation. It constantly interacts with culture, economy, politics, technology, and the power relations that shape social life. Understanding law therefore also means understanding people, social relations, and the dynamics of change over time.
Sociological and Islamic Perspectives on LawA key highlight of the book is its ability to elegantly connect theory and reality. The ideas of major theorists such as Émile Durkheim, Max Weber, Karl Marx, and Eugen Ehrlich are not merely presented as classical intellectual heritage, but are used to analyze contemporary social issues. This is complemented by Islamic legal thought through the concepts of maqāṣid al-sharīʿa, ʿurf, and maslaha. This integration creates a rich and relevant academic approach.
Law in the Digital Age and Social TransformationAcross ten systematically structured chapters, the book discusses key issues in modern law: land conflicts, unequal access to justice, crises of trust in legal institutions, and the challenges of digital transformation. Artificial intelligence, algorithms, platform governance, data protection, and digital privacy are critically examined as part of global social change.
The book also stands out for its depth of analysis. Each issue is explored from three perspectives: individual experience, institutional practice, and socio-political structure, offering a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between law and society.
More than just a textbook, "Sociology of Law and Social Transformation" is an invitation to view law in a more human-centered way. The true measure is not the quantity of laws, but their effectiveness in people's daily lives. Good law is not law on paper, but living law that is understood and felt.
For students, academics, practitioners, policymakers, and the general public, this work provides valuable insights into the future of Indonesian law and social transformation.
(IDNC)By Dr. Farid Wajdi, S.H., M.Hum
Founder of Ethics of Care, Member of the Judicial Commission (2015–2020), and Lecturer at Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU).