David J. Bederman is K. H. Gyr Professor in Private International Law at Emory University. Professor Bederman has published extensively on diverse legal topics, including legal history, constitutional law, and international legal theory and practice. In addition to a number of books and dozens of articles and essays, his major publications include Globalization and International Law (2008), The Classical Foundations of the American Constitution (2008), The Spirit of International Law (2002), International Law in Antiquity (2001), and International Law Frameworks (2001).
Part I. Customary Law in Perspective: 1. Anthropology: custom in pre-literate societies
2. Culture: the western legal tradition of positivism
3. History: the common law and custom
4. Economics, socio-biology and psychology: the human impulse of custom
Part II. Custom in Domestic Legal Systems: 5. Family law
6. Property
7. Contracts
8. Torts
9. Constitutional law
Part III. Custom in International Law: 10. Private international law: international commercial usage
11. Public international law: custom among nations
Conclusion: how and why custom endures.
