The Status of Comparative Law and the Necessity for Revising Its Teaching

The first part of this article represents an attempt to contemplate one of the major methodological issues in contemporary juridical science - the debate on the nature of comparative law, which is presented in three opposite aspects: whether comparative law is a scientific method, or an autonomous science or a purely educational discipline. This article highlights the role of comparative law as an independent branch of juridical science in the processes of European integration and globalization. Do Iranian law colleges have to change their national curriculum? The second part of this article concentrates on the above question. Comparative law teaching should not only familiarize the students - and thus open up their minds - to other systems and concepts, but should also prepare them for practical application. Future lawyers should be able to meet the challenges of a world of legal integration and globalization. Having a national curriculum does not fulfil this aim. Universities in Europe are gradually shifting towards a more internationally-centred curriculum and Iranian universities may draw inspiration from this experience.