Civil Law Reforms in Post-Colonial Asia

Exploring the legal evolution of CLMV countries, Civil Law Reforms in Post-Colonial Asia highlights the complexities and influences shaping their systems.

This book delves into the legal frameworks of the late-developing ASEAN nations, specifically Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam, collectively known as the CLMV countries. These nations face unique challenges as they navigate the integration of their legal systems amid the opportunities presented by the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), established in 2015. The text elucidates the dynamic shifts occurring within these legal systems while also examining the ongoing support for legal system development provided by international organizations and developed nations, particularly Japan, since the mid-1990s. The focus is largely on civil law, emphasizing Japan's contributions to civil codes and procedures.

The complexities of the legal systems in these recipient countries arise from a blend of historical influences. These include pre-colonial laws, colonial-era regulations imposed by foreign powers—such as French law in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, and English law in Myanmar—as well as the impacts of socialist law post-independence. Additionally, the pressures of modern industrialization and development further shape these legal frameworks, resulting in a unique amalgamation of various legal traditions.

To facilitate readers' understanding of the evolving legal landscape, each chapter of Civil Law Reforms in Post-Colonial Asia employs two methodological approaches. The first approach assesses the spatial dimensions of civil law across societal phenomena, while the second adopts a historical lens to track legal changes over time, providing a comprehensive view of the ongoing transformation of these legal systems.