An Introduction to Comparative Law / Edition 3

by Konrad Zweigert, Hein Koetz, Tony Weir

Overview

This book first discusses the nature of Comparative Law, its functions, aims, methods and history, then surveys the main features of the major legal families of the world. Extremely well written, this text outlines all the major legal systems of the world and details individual areas of law within these systems. Its prior edition has been highly regarded world-wide since its publication and was translated into many languages including Italian, Japanese and Russian. This third edition has been updated and contains useful new material including a chapter on Japanese Law. It has been skillfully translated from the German by Tony Weir. A key resource, this text provides the framework for a study of comparative law.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780198268598
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	11/12/1998
Edition description:	REV
Pages:	744
Product dimensions:	9.16(w) x 6.20(h) x 1.54(d)

About the Author

Konrad Zweigert, Late Director, Max Planck Institute for Foreign and International Private Law, Hamburg, and Hein Kötz, Director, Max Planck Institute for Foreign and International Private Law, Hamburg

Translated by Tony Weir, Fellow, Trinity College, University of Cambridge

Table of Contents

PART I
Abbreviations
Table of Cases
A. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
1: The Concept of Comparative Law
2: The Functions and Aims of Comparative Law
3: The Method of Comparative Law
4: The History of Comparative Law
B. THE LEGAL FAMILIES OF THE WORLD
5: The Style of Legal Families
I. THE ROMANISTIC LEGAL FAMILY
6: The History of French Law
7: The Spirit and Essential Features of the Code Civil
8: The Reception of the Code Civil
9: Courts and Lawyers in France and Italy
BII. THE GERMANIC LEGAL FAMILY
10: The History of German Law
11: The German Civil Code
12: The General Civil Code of Austria
13: The Swiss Civil Code
III. THE ANGLO-AMERICAN LEGAL FAMILY
14: The Development of the English Common Law
15: Courts and Lawyers in England
16: The Spread of the Common Law Throughout the World
17: The Law of the United States of America
18: Law-Finding and Procedure in Common Law and Civil Law
IV. THE NORDIC LEGAL FAMILY
19: Scandinavian Law, Past and Present
V. LAW IN THE FAR EAST
20: Chinese Law
21: Japanese Law
VI. RELIGIOUS LEGAL SYSTEMS
22: Islamic Law
23: Hindu Law
PART II
A. CONTRACT
I. THE FORMATION OF CONTRACTS
24: Juristic Act, Contract, and General Conditions of Business
25: Contractual Capacity
26: Offer and Acceptance
27: Illegality and Immorality
28: Indicia of Seriousness
29: The Construction of Contracts
30: Mistake, Deceit, and Duress
31: Representation
32: Assignment
33: Contracts for the Benefit of Third Parties
II. THE PERFORMANCE OF CONTRACTS
34: Claims to Performance and Their Enforcement
35: Breach of Contract
36: The Effect of Supervening Events
B. UNJUSTIFIED ENRICHMENT
37: Unjustified Enrichment in General
38: Unjustified Enrichment Specific Topics
C. TORT
39: Tort in General
40: Liability for others
41: Strict Liability
42: Invasions of the Right of Personality

Editorial Reviews

"This is an excellent guide to legal systems of the world, for both students and lawyers because of its rich content and its ability to shrink a rather large body of information into a succinct one-volume publication."
—American Society of International Law Newsletter

"The third edition of "IAn Introduction to Comparative Law continues to enrich the perspectives of a new generation of readers."
—Susan Millns, International and Comparative Law Quarterly Vol.48 October 1999.

From the Publisher