Part I Introduction, 1 Definition, Nature and Scope of Private International Law
This chapter provides an overview of the definition, nature, and scope of private international law. It first considers the space and time dimensions of private international law as well as three questions with which private international law is always concerned, namely: jurisdiction of the English court, recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments, and the choice of law. It then explains the meaning of foreign law and the international variety of private international law rules before discussing two possible ways in which the lack of unanimity among the various systems of private international law may be ameliorated: unification of internal laws and unification of the rules of private international law. In particular, it examines the Europeanisation of private international law and the impact of European Convention on Human Rights on private international law. Finally, it addresses the issue of the name or title of the subject in private international law.