Civil codes in Europe - comparative-historical perspective

Timetable

(Preferable) Thursdays at 12.30 till 14:00 (to be announced)

Module aim (aims)

Presentation and evaluation of development of civil codes in the continental Europe: from the oldest (French, Austrian) through newer (German, Swiss) and the newest (i.e. Dutch) codifications. Moreover, discussion about main achievements, challenges, chances and limitations of the idea of "codified" private law in Europe. 

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

a) basic knowledge about the concepts of private law and social functions of private law
b) basic knowledge in legal terminology and legal argumentation on area of private law
c) basic knowledge about history of civil law codifications in Europe

Syllabus

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
1. Historical background of codification of private law in Europe till 19th century
  a) the Justinian Codification - 6th century AD (Corpus Iuris Civilis)
  b) revival of "codified" Roman Law in Medieval Europe
  c) old laws in new shape - the Renaissance intellectual revolution, the natural law approach and switch from latin to local languages 

THE GREAT CODIFICATION ERA
2. French Civil Code (Code civil) - quick modern codification and its evolution 
3. Austrian Civil Code (ABGB) - late child of absolutism or new post-feudal opening?
4. The German way: long preparations the BGB of 1896 and impact of the "pure abstract" code
5. The Swiss way - ZGB of 1907 as main achievement of comparative-historical method  

CIVIL CODES IN THE 20TH CENTURY
6. Decline of private law in Russia. Civil law as public law in the Soviet Union  
7. Inter-war codification attempts in Europe (examples of i.e. Poland and Czechoslovakia)
8. Post-war codifications - Europe divided 
a) codifications in the Soviet block (i.e. Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary)
b) liberalization of private law in the Western Countries
9. Fall of the Soviet Block and the rise of the EU
a) impact of EU-law on European civil codes.
b) the newest codifications (i.e. Netherlands, Czechia) 
c) the rise and decline of the idea of the European Civil Code (ECC) and other unification projects (PECL, dCFR)

MODERN ISSUES
10. Problem of de-codification (fragmentization) of private law
11. Searching for solutions "outside the box" of civil codes (soft laws, mixed jurisdictions)

12-15. DISCUSSION ABOUT NATIONAL SYSTEMS OF PRIVATE LAW IN COUNTRIES PROPOSED AND PRESENTED BY STUDENTS

Reading list

- Dirk Heirbaut: A Comparative History of Civil, Commercial, and Procedural Codes Redefining Codification: A Comparative History of Civil, Commercial, and Procedural Codes - Oxford University Press, 2024

- G. Mousourakis: Comparative law and legal traditions : historical and contemporary perspectives - Springer 2019

- R. Lesaffer: European legal history : a cultural and political perspective - Cambridge University Press 2019 (particular chapters)