Concepts of Justice and National Context Outlining Legal Comparisons Between the Federal Republic of Germany, the United States of America, and the People's Republic of China

Abstract

Comparative law holds the promise of improving knowledge. Looking at other legal systems enables a nuanced understanding of the rules of one's own country. While comparative law traditionally starts with a concrete issue, the purpose of this paper is to explore why concepts of justice often differ widely from country to country. The following article compares three major economic powerhouses: the United States, the People's Republic of China and the Federal Republic of Germany. It will discuss the differences between a liberal and a social market economy, as well as the role of the constitution in society. The outline concludes by looking at the question of when different concepts of justice might converge.