SOAS Research Online

Abstract

Patrick Glenn’s Legal Traditions of the World caused a considerable stir on its first appearance. The publication of the second edition prompted this collective review by a team of colleagues, each of whom assessed a particular topic. Some reviewers also took up the invitation extended to them to comment on more general aspects, or to use their review as a springboard for a more general discussion, or both. No constraints were set on contributors, but some colleagues attended a meeting to discuss the project, all drafts were circulated to all the members of the team, in most cases on several occasions, and comments were exchanged. The result is a set of pieces which vary greatly in length, style and approach. Each can be read independently, but were drafted with colleagues’ opinions in mind, even if, on occasion, those opinions were not shared. (Note: Patrick Glenn’s reply was published as ‘Legal Traditions and Legal Traditions’ in Journal of Comparative Law. 2(1), pp.69, 2007.