Rethinking Environmental Justice in Indonesia through Actor-Network Theory in an Examination of Constructivism Paradigm

Environmental Justice (EJ) in Indonesia faces significant challenges due to an anthropocentric legal framework prioritizing human interests, such as economic and political agendas, over the rights of the environment and non-human entities. This anthropocentrism facilitates natural resource exploitation and marginalizes ecological concerns. This study aims to explore and reconstruct EJ through the Actor-Network Theory (ANT), which views humans and non-humans as equal actors within a legal network. Using a socio-legal approach and interdisciplinary analysis, this research includes literature reviews of national and international regulations and comparative studies with countries like Ecuador and New Zealand. Findings indicate that Indonesian environmental law remains human-centred, as reflected in laws like the Minerba and Environmental Law, which restrict community involvement and prioritize human interests. However, there is potential for adopting a pro-ecological legal framework through the recognition of non-human legal rights. This study concludes that applying ANT in environmental law can foster a more progressive, inclusive, and sustainable legal system, promoting environmental justice for human and non-human actors.