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Comparative International Law is a field of legal scholarship and practice that examines how different national legal systems address issues arising in transnational and global contexts, and how international norms influence or are influenced by domestic law.

Its aims include explaining variations in legal rules, identifying effective approaches, and informing policy and reform. The comparative method typically involves examining statutes, court decisions, and institutional practices across jurisdictions, as well as analyzing treaty regimes, customary international law, and transnational jurisprudence.

Key strands include private international law (conflicts of laws and recognition of foreign judgments), public international law (international obligations between states), and hybrid areas such as international economic law, human rights, and environmental law. Researchers study how different systems resolve questions of jurisdiction, liability, and enforcement.

Sources for comparison include national codes and case law, international agreements, and reputable secondary literature. Methodological challenges include context-dependent interpretation, legal transplants, language differences, and variations in constitutional or statutory structure.

The field supports harmonization efforts, informs international negotiations, and helps courts apply international norms in domestic contexts. It also highlights diverse legal cultures and contributes to scholarship on the rule of law and sovereignty.