Micronesian Counselor, Issue 38

Hezel, Francis X. (2001-12-14). Micronesian Counselor, Issue 38. Micronesian Counselor (Report). Kolonia, Pohnpei: Micronesian Seminar. pp. 1–10.

• Has attachment: File:57CQ3MAF.pdf

Abstract: The lead article, The Rule of Law, by Francis X. Hezel, S.J., explores the nature of law in Micronesia, from customary rules of behavior to modern legal codes. Anecdotes from funerals in Pohnpei and visits to small islands in Chuuk illustrate how traditional customs regulate conduct even without codification. The essay emphasizes that all societies depend on rules, but that Micronesian communities often rely on implicit understandings rather than formal statutes.

Additional sections discuss land disputes and court cases in Kosrae and Yap, highlighting the tension between customary authority and modern judicial systems. Commentary also includes perspectives from the Marshall Islands on balancing imported legal frameworks with traditional practices, underscoring the challenges of defining “rule of law” in island contexts.