Contemporary European law

Contemporary European law refers to the development of European legal systems from the late 18th century to the present day. The Napoleonic era, known for the Napoleonic Wars, is also notable for the French Civil Code of 1804, a landmark in legal history. This code replaced the fragmented system of customary law and redefined jurists as interpreters of codified statutes. The idea of codification spread across Europe, encountering both support and opposition. The concept of codification spread across Europe, generating both support and resistance. In Germany, a major codification debate arose, led by Friedrich Carl von Savigny, whose opposition laid the groundwork for the historical school of law and introduced the concept of the "juristic act." Despite resistance, the German Empire adopted the Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch in 1900, largely shaped by Pandectist jurists.

The social changes of the 19th century influenced legal evolution, particularly with the rise of labor law in the early 20th century. Technological progress from the Industrial Revolution supported the rise of legal positivism, which promoted a scientific approach centered on legal norms. This gave rise to normativism, championed by Hans Kelsen. Positivism faced opposition from various schools, including neo-Kantian and neo-Hegelian natural law theories, the institutionalism of Santi Romano and Maurice Hauriou, and Rudolf von Jhering's jurisprudence of interests.

The first half of the 20th century saw totalitarian regimes using law as a direct instrument of power, often with devastating effects. In contrast, the post-World War II period, termed by Norberto Bobbio as the "age of rights," emphasized the inviolability of fundamental human rights. New constitutions reflected this shift, expanding rights to include health, opinion, social security, suffrage, equality, labor, and environmental and animal protections. From the 1960s, family law underwent major reforms, especially in recognizing women's legal status. Globalization challenged the traditional state-based legal order, spreading commercial contract models—often of American origin—and increasing the influence of supranational organizations. Rapid advances in information technology, medicine, and biotechnology introduced ethical issues that law continues to address.