The debate on comparative reasoning by courts -- Foreign law in courts : a typology -- Factoring influencing the use of comparative arguments by courts -- The method and its pitfalls -- England and Wales -- France -- Germany -- Czech Republic -- Slovakia -- An empirical epilogue : quantity, quality, and beyond -- Comparative reasoning by courts : the theoretical playing field -- On authority, citation, and silence -- Comparative reasoning by courts : some classical points revisited -- The deviations : political over- and non-comparisons --