The reception of the trust in civil law jurisdictions has generated considerable conceptual debate internationally and in East Asia. In Trust Law in Asian Civil Law Jurisdictions, the authors: • Provide a detailed comparative examination of trust laws in Asian civil law jurisdictions from both operational and theoretical perspectives • Discuss the reception of the trust laws in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and China and the challenges facing them • Engage in in-depth comparative inquiries as to how these Asian legal systems resolve questions pertaining to the trust • Evaluate the distinctive features of Asian trusts and how they are moulded to suit the civilian legal frameworks within which they are situated. The analysis intersects with the Trento trust project in Europe, but also differs from it by providing valuable perspectives of the 'Asian' approaches to trust researchers in Asia and the Anglophone world at large.

In Diaspora and Trust Adrian H. Hearn proposes that a new paradigm of socio-economic development is gaining importance for Cuba and Mexico. Despite their contrasting political ideologies, both countries must build new forms of trust among the state, society, and resident Chinese diaspora communities if they are to harness the potentials of China’s rise. Combining political and economic analysis with ethnographic fieldwork, Hearn analyzes Cuba's and Mexico's historical relations with China, and highlights how Chinese diaspora communities are now deepening these ties. Theorizing trust as an alternative to existing models of exchange—which are failing to navigate the world's shifting economic currents—Hearn shows how Cuba and Mexico can reformulate the balance of power between state, market, and society. A new paradigm of domestic development and foreign engagement based on trust is becoming critical for Cuba, Mexico, and other countries seeking to benefit from China’s growing economic power and social influence.

"This is the first English-language monograph researching the governance of Chinese charitable trusts from the perspective of law and sociology. It is of special interest to legal academics and sociologists working in the areas of charity, governance, regulation, political liberalisation, and East Asian law"--

This book presents a hotly debated issue concerning the ownership of trust property in China. The book describes various conventional interpretations of Chinese Trust Law submitted by legal scholars and compares diverse approaches regarding the ownership of trust property provided by jurisdictions globally. The book does not directly answer the question “Who is the owner of trust property in China?” Instead, using a social capital perspective, it develops a more practical perspective to explain why Chinese trust business has grown rapidly even in lack of legal certainty regarding the location of ownership of trust property. The book also further predicts under what conditions is the time ripe to clarify the location of the ownership of trust property in China. By employing those sociological concepts often used to depict and analyze society, this book outlines the structure of the Chinese trust business and related social relations in different stages, i.e., the current rapid development stage, and the possible transitional stage in the near future. The focus is on how the social network structure affects the behavior of actors (such as the settlor, the trustee, and the beneficiaries, and/or their potential candidates) within the relevant section of Chinese society. The book provides readers with an intensive analysis of the impacts of historical, cultural, and social elements on the legislation and development of trust law in China. It will appeal both to lawyers interested in the Chinese trust business and to comparative law researchers and social scientists.

This collection of essays by experts in the field explores the place of the trust in the modern civil law.

Despite the common belief that they are found only in the common law tradition, trusts have long been known in mixed jurisdictions even where they have a civilian law of property. Trusts have now been introduced by legislation in a number of civilian jurisdictions, such as France and China. Other recent developments include the reception of foreign trusts through private international law in Italy and Switzerland and the inclusion of a chapter on trusts in Europe's Draft Common Frame of Reference. As a result, there is a growing interest in the ways in which the trust can be accommodated in civil law systems. This collection explores this question, as well as general issues such as the juridical nature of the trust, the role and qualifications of the trustee and particular developments in specific jurisdictions.