Open AccessLegal Definition of Irresistible Force in the Civil Law of Russia and China
Author(s) -
Svetlana V. Zimneva,
Татьяна Игоревна Попова,
H. Siao
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
brics law journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.184
H-Index - 4
eISSN - 2412-2343
pISSN - 2409-9058
DOI - 10.21684/2412-2343-2021-8-3-93-120
Subject(s) - force majeure , law , use of force , political science , civil code , china , legislation , ambiguity , civil law (civil law) , sociology , public law , international law , philosophy , linguistics
The research focus is on concept of force majeure and irresistible force as a reason to release the parties from liability for failure to perform civil obligations. The authors examine theoretical concept and legal denition of “irresistible force” and its characteristics based on legislation, legal literature and judicial practice of the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China. Also, the authors analyze the civil law jurisdictions on irresistible force, relatively to its ambiguity and situation with the spread of the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and come to the conclusion that courts in each specic case should establish irresistible force circumstances. The work uses a linguistic (philological) method, in particular, the method of distributive analysis of the terms “irresistible force” and “force majeure.” The article shows that in modern Russian law the expression “irresistible force circumstances” has more ecient terminological potential. The authors propose implementation of “irresistible force circumstances” concept in the Russian Civil Code, which would more accurately reect the essence of this concept.