Roman law: comparison with current law in positive methods to manage conflicts

Abstract

Alternative procedures to the judicial way existed in the Roman Law to solve controversies; many of them emerged in the family environment and in the business world. At present, through Mediation, Negotiation and Arbitration (Alternative Dispute Resolution - ADR), more favorable agreements can  be obtained for the interests of both parties. In addition, these ADR methods protect privacy and avoid distress that damage the health and destroys the future relationships between the parties. The objective of this work was to compare the alternative strategies existing in the Roman Jurisdiction with the ADR methods used at present. This meta-analytical study consisted in the bibliographic revision of roman documents to compare them with the sources of current Law. The results inform that, in both, Roman Law and Current Law, alternative strategies like ADR, offers important advantages to the judicial way. They can be highlighted: the preservation of privacy, the good reception of the resolution by the parties, a more positive management of emotions, and a preservation of good relations between the parties. Both in Roman times and in our times, these aspects have special relevance in the field of the family and also in private businesses.