Seminar: The Diffusion of Common Law in the Straits Settlements: "The Six Widows’ Case" and the Rout of Custom

In this seminar Professor Andrew Harding offers a fascinating case study of the encounter of common law with Asian contexts, and the long term impacts of this encounter. The story begins with a case that raised the questions as to whether common law or Chinese custom should govern a case of disputed succession to the estate of a wealthy Chinese man in early 20th century Singapore. The discussion goes on to embrace the reception of common law in the Straits Settlements, the problems involved in accommodating legal pluralism, and the way in which the common law ultimately routed Chinese custom.

The article on which the seminar will be based can be found by following this link.

Professor Andrew Harding is currently Visiting Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Oxford and Professor of Law, University of Reading Malaysia. He is a former Director of that Centre, former Director of the Asian Law Institute, former Head of the Law School at SOAS, University of London, and former Chair in Asia-Pacific Legal Relations at the University of Victoria, BC Canada. His scholarly contribution has related to comparative constitutional law with reference to Southeast Asia, and Asian legal systems. He is the author or editor of 25 books, and is a co-founding-editor of the Hart Publishing book series 'Constitutional Systems of the World'. He is an alumnus of Pembroke College, Oxford.