International Encyclopedia of Comparative Law, Instalment 44

Mathias Reimann, Dr. iur University of Freiburg (1982), LLM University of Michigan (1983), is Professor of Law and holder of the Hessel E. Yntema Chair at the University of Michigan. He has published numerous books and articles on private international law, comparative law, and legal history.

I. Introduction and Overview

A. Comparative Law Defined
B. Four Dimensions of the Discipline – Describing, Comparing, Mapping, and Tracing Law
C. Three Pervasive Questions
List of Principal Works

II. The Relationship with Other Disciplines

A. Comparative Law and other “International” Subjects
B. Comparative Law and “Social Science” Approaches to Law
C. In Conclusion: Between Independence and Interdisciplinarity
List of Principal Works

III. The Development of the Discipline

A. Comparative Studies Before 1800
B. The Nineteenth-Century Foundations of Comparative Law
C. The First Half of the Twentieth Century
D. From World War II to the Fall of the Wall
E. The 1990s and Beyond
F. In Conclusion: Major Accomplishments and the Loss of A Clear Definition
List of Principal Works

IV. The Coverage of Comparative Law

A. Legal Systems of the World
B. Elements of Legal Systems
C. Areas of Law 109
D. In Conclusion: Proliferation and its Price

V. Goals And Uses of Comparative Law

A. Traditional Academic Goals
B. Traditional Practical Uses
C. Modern Additions
D. In Conclusion: The Strength and Downside of Goal Pluralism
List of Principal Works

VI. Orientations, Approaches, and Methods

A. Basic Orientations
B. General Approaches
C. Specific Methods
D. In Conclusion: A Mixed Methodological Record
List of Principal Works

VII. Twenty-First-Century Challenges

A. Adjusting to the “Age of Information”
B. Coming to Grips with Global Legal Pluralism
C. Acknowledging Political Implications and Responsibility
List of Principal Works

VIII. A Summary and Final Critique