Fifteenth International Colloquium

🧭 Context and Purpose

This volume compiles the proceedings of the 2012 International Association of Procedural Law (IAPL) World Conference on Civil Procedure held in Moscow, Russia, from September 18–21, 2012. The conference brought together scholars and practitioners from over 40 countries to examine the evolution of civil procedure across various legal systems, with a particular focus on Eurasian countries. The central theme explored how cultural contexts influence civil justice practices and the role of comparative civil procedure in fostering international dialogue.

🏛 Structure and Content Overview

Preface and Introduction

• Preface: Outlines the objectives of the conference and the significance of re-evaluating civil procedure in diverse cultural contexts.
• Introduction: Provides an overview of the themes addressed in the volume, including the impact of culture on civil justice practices and the importance of comparative analysis.

Part I – Comparative Civil Procedure: Eurasian Perspectives

This section presents national reports from 24 countries, offering insights into their civil procedure systems:

• Russia: Examines the Russian civil procedure system, highlighting its unique features and recent reforms.
• Kazakhstan: Discusses Kazakhstan's civil procedure laws and their alignment with international standards.
• Kyrgyzstan: Analyzes Kyrgyzstan's civil procedure system, focusing on its development and challenges.
• Uzbekistan: Explores Uzbekistan's civil procedure laws and their adaptation to modern legal practices.
• Tajikistan: Investigates Tajikistan's civil procedure system, emphasizing its historical evolution and current state.
• Turkmenistan: Reviews Turkmenistan's civil procedure laws and their implementation in practice.
• Azerbaijan: Assesses Azerbaijan's civil procedure system, considering its alignment with European norms.
• Armenia: Evaluates Armenia's civil procedure laws and their compatibility with international standards.
• Georgia: Looks into Georgia's civil procedure system, focusing on recent reforms and challenges.
• Ukraine: Discusses Ukraine's civil procedure laws and their adaptation to European practices.
• Belarus: Analyzes Belarus's civil procedure system, highlighting its unique characteristics.
• Moldova: Examines Moldova's civil procedure laws and their alignment with international norms.
• Bulgaria: Reviews Bulgaria's civil procedure system, focusing on its development and challenges.
• Romania: Investigates Romania's civil procedure laws and their adaptation to modern legal practices.
• Poland: Assesses Poland's civil procedure system, considering its alignment with European standards.
• Slovakia: Discusses Slovakia's civil procedure laws and their implementation in practice.
• Czech Republic: Evaluates the Czech Republic's civil procedure system, focusing on recent reforms.
• Hungary: Looks into Hungary's civil procedure laws and their compatibility with international standards.
• Slovenia: Analyzes Slovenia's civil procedure system, highlighting its unique features.
• Croatia: Reviews Croatia's civil procedure laws and their adaptation to European norms.
• Serbia: Assesses Serbia's civil procedure system, considering its alignment with international standards.
• Bosnia and Herzegovina: Investigates Bosnia and Herzegovina's civil procedure laws and their implementation in practice.
• Montenegro: Discusses Montenegro's civil procedure system, focusing on recent reforms and challenges.

Part II – Cultural Dimensions of Civil Procedure

This section explores how cultural factors influence civil justice practices:

• Legal Culture: Examines the role of legal culture in shaping civil procedure systems.
• Judicial Independence: Discusses the importance of judicial independence in ensuring fair and impartial civil proceedings.
• Access to Justice: Analyzes the challenges and solutions related to ensuring access to justice for all individuals.
• Alternative Dispute Resolution: Investigates the role of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in civil justice systems.

🧠 Key Themes and Concepts

• Legal Convergence: The movement towards harmonizing civil procedure laws across different legal systems.
• Legal Transplants: The adoption and adaptation of legal concepts and procedures from one jurisdiction to another.
• Judicial Roles: The evolving responsibilities and functions of judges in civil proceedings.
• Expert Testimony: The changing nature of expert witness involvement in legal proceedings.
• Legal Culture: The impact of cultural factors on the development and application of civil procedure laws.

🌍 Geographic and Jurisdictional Focus

• Eurasia: Emphasis on civil procedure systems in Eurasian countries, including Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro.