Legal effectiveness in promoting development policies: A case study of North Aceh Indonesia

This research evaluated the effectiveness of the Law on the Governing of Aceh (LoGA) as the legal basis for regional development policies in the North Aceh District, Indonesia. Despite its enactment in 2006, the district has faced persistent challenges, including high poverty rates and poor economic growth. The LoGA was intended to accelerate development in Aceh after the conflict and tsunami, reflecting the legal aspirations of the region (reconsidered). Therefore, using a qualitative approach, including interviews, observations, and analysis of secondary data, this research evaluated the effectiveness of the LoGA based on its provisions, enforcement, infrastructure and facilities, political landscape, cultural factors, and societal impacts. The result showed significant substantive, institutional, and societal challenges, which led to legal uncertainty, ineffective policy implementation, and the necessity for policy revision and community involvement. © 2023 The Authors