The course on Private Comparative Law first considers fundamental questions surrounding the methodology of comparative law in the context of private law, including among other aspects the functional method. The second part of the course will deal with the legal families and traditions in private law, particularly the differences between the civil law tradition and the common law tradition (legal sources, force of precedent and statutory interpretation). Emphasis will be laid on selected topics in the fields of contract, tort, property and matrimonial property law. The third part examines the trend towards de-nationalisation of private law. Gradual approximation, harmonisation and unification of national private laws will be analysed. Not only international developments, but also and especially the emerging and dynamic subject of the Europeanisation of private law will be looked at. The recent Proposal for a Regulation on a Common European Sales Law, which was published by the EU Commission in October 2011, will be considered as an example illustrating this development and the problems of European private law.

 

The course on Methodology of Public Comparative Law provides the basic framework for understanding and eventually applying the comparative method as a supplement to the legal method in scientific research. Classes will emphasise the growing role of the comparative method within the process of global development of the law and of European integration; furthermore, the course will highlight the interaction of comparative law with different legal traditions (thus requiring an initiation into legal systemology and a special acquaintance with the common law system), with the historical method (diachronic - as distinct from synchronic - comparison) as well as with the difficulties of legal translation  (which must always be a translation of concepts rather than a translation of words). Comparative law must therefore always stress the need to distinguish between the formal and the actual rule of law and may be regarded as a useful instrument for a better understanding of one's own legal system. The course is meant mainly for a public law framework although the fundamentals of the comparative legal methodology are applicable to all areas of law.

 

•   Dra. Esther Farnós Amorós, professora en Dret Civil de la Universitat Pompeu Fabra. Dilluns dia 3 de novembre a partir de les 16.00 h. i fins les 18.00 hores
•   Dr. Pablo Pareja Alcarraz, professor ajudant de Relacions Internacionals de la Universitat Pompeu Fabra. Dilluns dia 3 de novembre a partir de les 18.00 h. i fins les 20.00 hores.
•   Dr. Víctor Ferreres Comella, professor de Dret Constitucional de la Universitat Pompeu Fabra. Dimarts dia 4 de novembre a partir de les 17.00 h. i fins les 19.00 hores.
•   Dr. Josep Lluís Martí Marmol, professor de Filosofia del Dret de la Universitat Pompeu Fabra. Dimecres dia 5 a partir de les 16 h. i fins les 18.00 hores.