Socialist Law in Socialist East Asia

A unique comparison of laws and institutional designs in two continuing socialist states: China and Vietnam. The book will appeal to scholars and graduate students researching comparative law, socio-legal studies, Asian laws, Chinese law, Vietnamese law, and law and development.

Since China''s reform and opening up started in 1978 and Vietnam''s Doi Moi reforms were initiated in 1986, these two East Asian economies have adopted capitalistic models of development while retaining and reforming their socialist legal systems along the way. Tracking the trajectory of socialist laws and their legacy, this book offers a unique comparison of laws and institutional designs in China and Vietnam. Leading scholars from China, Vietnam, Australia and the United States analyze the history, development and impact of socialist law reforms in these two continuing socialist states. Readers are offered a varied insight into the complex quality and unique features of socialist law and why it should be taken seriously. This is a fresh theoretical approach to, and internal critique of, socialist laws which demonstrates how socialist law in China and Vietnam may shape the future of global legal development among developing countries.