Administrative Law in East Asia: A Comparative-Historical Analysis

Abstract

Comparative law has experienced its share of debate over both purpose and methodology. In fact, there are many things one might hope to accomplish through comparative scholarship, and no need to privilege one purpose over another. So long as the purpose of a particular project is made clear, readers will be able to decide for themselves what is gained from the comparison. The same can be said of method. There are many possible methods for doing comparative work, and so long as the chosen method is clear, readers will be able to judge for themselves whether the materials and the argument support the final conclusions. Self-reflection is important, but it also seems true that at some point debate over purpose and method can be paralyzing, getting in the way of comparative projects that might yield interesting insights.

Keywords: comparative law, administrative law, east asia

JEL Classification: K10, K33