Publication: Law or Justice : Building Equitable Legal Institutions
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2005
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2012-06-26
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It is now widely accepted that the 'rule of law' is key to sustainable development. The different legal or rule-based systems in any given society underpin the institutions that govern both market and non-market interactions; they determine the distribution of economic, social and political rights and obligations affecting both economic and noneconomic relationships. They shape the regulation of market practices and the delivery of public services and the opportunities people have to take part in economic activity and generate fair returns. Legal institutions also provide mechanisms to mediate conflict resolve disputes and sustain peace and order. This belief in the importance of legal institutions is reflected in the emergence of Justice Sector Reform (JSR) as a central concern for many development agencies. This paper examines the way the relationship between law and development is currently conceptualized in development circles, and in particular how Justice Sector Reform has been pursued as a consequence.
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“Decker, Klaus; Sage, Caroline; Stefanova, Milena. 2005. Law or Justice : Building Equitable Legal Institutions. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/9152 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”
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