From the upsurge in divorces to the reformulation of the judge’s role

In view of the current social upheavals linked to the democratization of the trade union world, innovations in new information and communication technologies, economic liberalism, the imbalance in the relationship between judicial personnel and litigants, and the lack of operationalization of the coexistence of written law and customary law, a shift has been observed in recent years from the field of modern judicial institutions to that of local customary institutions. This functional dualism of judicial institutions, rather than being an obstacle to the administration of justice, has proved to be an asset in the settlement of a number of conflicts in our societies. Today, there is no doubt as to the effectiveness of these mutations and excesses. The International Association of Legal Sciences held a conference in Pau in July 1981 on the theme of "Settling disputes outside the courts".