European Law in the Past and the Future: Unity and Diversity over Two Millennia

As Europe moves towards economic and political unification, many wonder why legal unification occurs so slowly. R.C. Van Caenegem considers the historical reasons behind this diversity, stressing the adoption of the classical law of the Romans and the influence of the rise of the nation states. The impact of politics on legal development is another key factor. The book concludes with a consideration of the ongoing debate on the desirability of European legal unification.