El ideario jurídico de Antoine d'Abbadie

Abstract

The author attempts to examine the content of the legal texts written by A. d’Abbadie, which are of interest in spite of their smaller relevancy in his scientific production. The author considers five texts of unequal extension and value. D’Abbadie pronounces himself against 19th century continental constitutionalism and against the movement of codification generated by the Natural Law school and by the French Revolution, and expresses his preference for the historical constitutionalism which is a characteristic of England and of the peninsular Basque Country. On the other hand, d’Abbadie carries out a survey on customary law, and he gathered data on successoral law in the Basque Country. The nucleus of his contribution is centered on the reform of the government and administration of rural municipalities, about which he demonstrated various and original points of view.