Private law at Moscow University (XIX–XXI): formation, revival and development

Abstract

The article analyzes the problems of the formation, revival and development of private law at Moscow University. The authors identify three main historical stages in the domestic legal system that private law (civil law) science has passed through and represent them: the pre-revolutionary stage (the stage of formation of private law in Russia); the Soviet period, in which, in the absence of private law, civil law proper and the corresponding civil law, civil law science developed; the post-Soviet stage, in which the restoration of private law and its further development took place, combining both classical private law concepts and modern approaches. The emphasis is on the fact that the teachers of Moscow University and its Department of Civil Law have consistently sought to solve a two-pronged task: to obtain new scientific knowledge in the field of private law through its in-depth scientific study and their subsequent transfer to students by giving university education a fundamental scientific character. Roman private law replaces the general theory of civil law with such a formulation of civil law education, therefore, at Moscow University, the teaching of civil law was initially combined with the teaching of Roman private law. Throughout history, the study and teaching of Roman law by the civilists of Moscow University has been and remains their “trademark”. The authors emphasize that the participation of teachers of the department in legislative work and law enforcement practice turned out to be extremely useful and had a beneficial effect both on the teaching of civil (private) law and on its scientific research, which contributed to the development of domestic civil law on a private legal basis. Currently, the department implements major scientific and educational projects, therefore, there is every reason to assert that the modern staff of the Department of Civil Law of Moscow University has not only preserved the best traditions of fundamental university education and scientific research in the field of civics, laid down by remarkable Russian civilists and novelists back in the XIX century, but also actively contributed to the revival and development of domestic private law rights in the field of legislation, doctrine and teaching.

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