Choice of Law Meets Private Law Theory

Abstract

Choice of law can, and often should, be an important feature of an autonomy-enhancing law as it expands the possible frameworks within which people can govern their affairs. The theory of choice of law we develop in this article builds on three core notions that dominate existing doctrine — states, party autonomy, and what we loosely refer to as ‘limitations’; but it releases choice of law from its subordination to private international law (or its inter-state equivalent in federal contexts). As a freestanding concept, choice of law belongs to private law’s empowering sections and thus participates in the obligation of liberal states to proactively promote people’s self-determination. This foundation of the field refines its three fundamental notions in a way that facilitates their peaceable cohabitation. It also recalibrates the boundaries of choice of law doctrine, clarifies its prescriptions, and offers grounds for its reform.

Keywords: Private law theory, contracts, liberal contract, states, right to contract, choice of law, party autonomy, foreign law, foreign element, non‐state law