The journal Comparative Legal History, published on behalf of the European Society for Comparative Legal History (ESCLH), is organising an online seminar entitled “Family Feud or Family Reunion? Comparative Law and Comparative Legal History as Siblings” as part of its Comparative Legal History Dialogues series. Comparative Legal History is the scholarly journal of the ESCLH, publishing research in comparative, transnational and global legal history. The previous session in the series, “Dialogues on Customary Law”, was held online on 5 November 2025.

Speakers

Prof. Thomas Duve, Max Planck Institute for Legal History and Legal Theory
Prof. Ralf Michaels, Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law
Prof. Jaakko Husa, University of Helsinki

Theme

Comparative law and comparative legal history share a close intellectual kinship. In the nineteenth century, when comparative law emerged as an autonomous discipline, comparative lawyers often showed a great interest in legal history. After many decades of differentiation and specialisation within legal studies, the session reassesses the relationship between the two fields. Questions include whether comparatists still engage with comparative legal history, whether the two forms of scholarship continue to share methodological tools and theoretical assumptions, and whether comparative legal historians are interested in providing information, perspectives or solutions for questions arising within comparative law.

Format

After brief contributions by the invited speakers, attendees will be invited to join in a general discussion. The session is held on Zoom.

Date and Time

Thursday, 15 October 2026, 12:00 to 13:00 CEST, which is 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm IST.

Who Can Attend

The organisers state that the event is free and open to the public, so participants from India may register. The ESCLH notice invites scholars, researchers and students interested in comparative law, legal history and legal methodology.

Fee and How to Register

Participation is free. Registration is required by email to clhdialogues@gmail.com. The organisers do not state a separate registration deadline, so write in before the session begins at 12:00 CEST (3:30 pm IST) on 15 October 2026.