Comparative Law

Name: Comparative Law
Price: 319.42 AUD
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ISBN: 9781032684468

A Critical Introduction

Alessandro Somma

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Hardback

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English

Routledge
05 February 2026

Comparative law; Law & society; International law

This advanced textbook offers an overview and critical treatment of comparative law, incorporating both traditional and modern approaches to the discipline and an up-to-date survey of the key methodological debates. The fundamental concepts of comparative law are examined through the lens of three main questions: what to compare, why compare, and how to compare.

The study of the objects of comparative analysis (what to compare) begins with a critique of legal positivism to address a plurality of legal concepts. The investigation of the aims of comparative law (why compare) considers the most widespread classifications of legal orders and the diverse approaches to the study of legal change. Finally, the methods of comparative law (how to compare) are analysed, taking into account their different functions. Adopting a contextualised, interdisciplinary approach to the subject with a focus on a range of different legal systems, the author brings in examples from politics and economics to the analysis, highlighting the importance of comparative law for the understanding of modern societies.

Comparative Law: A Critical Introduction will provide a thought-provoking read for advanced-level students and scholars of comparative law.

By: Alessandro Somma
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm,
ISBN: 9781032684468
ISBN 10: 1032684461
Pages: 270
Publication Date: 05 February 2026
Audience: College/higher education , A / AS level
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Part 1: WHAT TO COMPARE: The law and the legal order 1. Comparative law and critique of legal positivism 2. An external point of view on law Part 2: WHY COMPARE: Taxonomy 3. Comparing to unite and comparing to divide 4. Systems and families of systems 5. The Western Legal Tradition Part 3: WHY COMPARE: Legal change 6. Explaining and promoting legal change 7. The market for reforms Part 4: HOW TO COMPARE: The methods of comparative law 8. Comparative law between science and method 9. Structuralism and functional analysis 10. The dissociation between techniques and values

Alessandro Somma is a full professor of comparative law at Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. He is member of the International Academy of Comparative Law and of the Board of the Italian Association of Comparative Law.