ABSTRACT
This chapter lays the foundations for understanding how the local legal complex shapes popular legal consciousness, specifically through sensibilisation activities. This chapter briefly covers the state-centric approach to rule of law building advanced by major international actors, such as the EU and UN. It then moves on to explore more localized approaches to raising awareness about the law and legal system, and how this intersects with non-state justice practices. Local NGOs play a key role in both sensibilisation about the state legal system but also in advocating for and providing mediation services. There are numerous channels through which local actors seek to shape popular legal consciousness, including through radio programming, training leaders, providing legal, and providing mediation services. These varying elements play an important role in how people view and engage with legal-justice, which is explored in later chapters.
