Adatlineaget

Adatlineaget is a theoretical construct used in anthropology and ethnology to describe the persistence and interaction of customary practices (adat) and kin-based lineage within modern or hybrid communities. It is used to analyze how traditional authority associated with genealogical descent continues to influence social organization, dispute resolution, and ritual life even when state institutions and market dynamics are dominant.

Etymology and origin: The term combines adat, a Malay-Indonesian word for custom or tradition, with lineage and the suffix -et to denote a field of study. It was proposed in speculative or theoretical discussions in the early 21st century to capture a dynamic that resists simple modernization narratives.

Key ideas and components: Adatlineaget emphasizes three interrelated axes: genealogical legitimacy as a source of authority; the continued relevance of adat-based norms in marriage, succession, and communal governance; and the negotiation between customary law and formal legal systems. Studies often use ethnographic fieldwork, genealogical mapping, and analysis of legal texts and ritual practices to identify indicators of adatlineaget in a community.

Applications and debate: In diaspora and postcolonial contexts, adatlineaget helps explain how migrant or minority communities maintain traditional networks that confer social capital. Critics warn that the term can obscure regional variation and risk conflating culture with ethnicity or law, urging precise definitions and careful methodological treatment.

See also: Related topics include adat, kinship, lineage, customary law, legal pluralism, and diaspora studies.