In a world that is becoming increasingly interdependent, legal systems are interacting in ways that can influence and be influenced by each other. This means that legal reform projects can have far-reaching effects. The emergence of an international legal movement with common agendas has increased the opportunities to study these effects, and the tendency toward convergence of legal trends in different societies is clearly visible.
These trends are often identified through scandals, incidents, and ‘horror stories,’ which are then disseminated and spread by the media. The media’s role in catalyzing legal reform should not be underestimated; it is a powerful force for change.
The revitalization of the legal reform movement has been driven, in part, by a growing concern over judicial independence and the impact of political pressure on justice. In this context, many scholars have been advocating for democratization of the judiciary through popular election. While this may seem democratic, it risks compromising judicial impartiality and potentially exposes judges to the influences of economic actors and political rhetoric that do not have anything to do with the fair administration of justice (Karlsson and Sorensen 2004).
The broader issue, however, is the need for legal reform to be based on a careful analysis of society’s existing structures and cultural facts. It is these that shape a country’s laws, and that must be respected in any attempt at law reform. Ultimately, law reform should help to empower the people to change their own laws.