Introduction to Comparative Private Law

The course will introduce students to the world's main legal systems, their historical origins, and their most important features. The reading assignments and classroom discussions will focus on different methods of legal thinking that have led to distinct, yet equivalent legal institutions for solving problems. The course will analyze how different legal traditions have solved problems related to core issues in private law. Students will be offered an overview of contracts, property, torts and family relations, followed by a comparison
of the different legal approaches to them. The course will also look at current trends toward the harmonization of different legal systems, a critical aim in today's globalized business world, as well as the evolution and interaction of various legal traditions.