Paksaan

Paksaan is a term used in Malay and Indonesian to denote coercion or compulsion—the act or condition of forcing someone to act or refrain from acting against their will. The word is derived from paksa, meaning to force, with the noun-forming suffix -an to indicate a state or condition.

In everyday usage, paksaan describes situations where choices are constrained by threats, pressure, or intimidation, reducing the element of voluntary consent. In legal and ethical contexts, actions taken under paksaan may not reflect freely given agreement. Many legal traditions treat contracts or obligations formed under coercion as voidable or subject to remedies such as rescission or damages, depending on the jurisdiction and circumstances. Forms of paksaan can be economic, psychological, or physical.

Paksaan is distinct from ordinary social pressure or persuasion that does not undermine informed consent. It is a topic of study in discussions of autonomy, power dynamics, human rights, and complaint mechanisms, where reducing or preventing coercive practices is a common objective.

The precise definition and handling of paksaan vary by cultural and legal context, making its interpretation context-dependent. See also coercion, duress, and consent.