Legal Nullism and Perspectives of Indonesia People's Belief in Today's Legal Conditions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59141/jist.v6i2.4491Keywords:
legal nihilism, distrust, legal system, political system, philosophical nihilismAbstract
Legal nihilism in Indonesia arises from widespread public distrust in the legal and political systems. Rooted in philosophical nihilism, mainly as expounded by Friedrich Nietzsche, legal nihilism reflects the belief that law, much like other social constructs, lacks inherent purpose or justice. This phenomenon has grown due to disillusionment with political elites, legal bureaucracy, and corruption cases, leading the public to perceive legal enforcement as selective and biased. Public skepticism is exemplified by viral social media movements like #NoViralNoJustice, which suggest legal accountability only occurs when incidents gain online attention. This study examines the socio-legal implications of legal nihilism in Indonesia and its destructive effects on societal order. Drawing from legal philosophy and sociology, the paper analyzes how misaligned legal reforms, such as the controversial MyPertamina subsidy policy, deepen public dissatisfaction. The research highlights the urgent need for legal reforms prioritizing social welfare, transparency, and public trust, emphasizing the role of utilitarian legal philosophy as a potential framework for restoring legal credibility in Indonesia.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Alvan Rahfiansyah Lubis

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International. that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.