American Society Of Comparative Law 2007 Annual Meeting

Cornell Law School
Ithaca, New York
November 8—10, 2007

Comparative Law and Culture
Join us in the Finger Lakes for the 2007 Annual Meeting. The topic is "Comparative Law and Culture." The complex relationships between comparative law and culture offer numerous and fascinating avenues for study. On a methodological level, what might be involved in apprehending and comprehending a legal culture? How, furthermore, are foreign legal cultures to be understood in the context of the broader political, intellectual and material cultures in which they are embedded? On a disciplinary level, which legal cultures can and should be studied comparatively, and why? To what extent, furthermore, does the discipline of comparative law contribute to the definition of legal cultures generally, and of specific legal cultures as well?  On a substantive level, to what extent should comparative law be engaged in efforts either to explain, validate and protect certain legal cultures (such as minority ones), to help in the promotion or even construction of others (such as transnational ones), or to critique or perhaps denounce others?  In short, the intricate relationships between comparative law and culture should provide very fertile and varied ground for discussion.

For further information, please contact:
Academic matters:
Annelise Riles or Mitchel Lasser
Administrative matters, travel:  
Donna Hastings