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Xi, at left, is seen walking alongside Putin in front of an honor guard standing at attention, dressed in formal white uniforms and caps with gold trim, holding bayonets pointed upwards.

China’s Global ‘Concierge Services’ to Strengthen Fellow Authoritarians

China's intrusive military, economic, and diplomatic aid to Russia, Iran, and others spreads autocratic practices such as secrecy, censorship, surveillance, and corruption.
Jun. 4, 2026
The U.S. Supreme Court is seen at dusk on May 30, 2026 in Washington, DC.

Bang, Bang, Bang: Callais Kills Off the Voting Rights Act

To the extent that the Voting Rights Act served as at least a minimal constraint on political gerrymandering, that constraint is gone.
Jun. 4, 2026
Bill Pulte, then Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, speaks to reporters outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington, DC, on January 9, 2026.

The Acting DNI and the Intelligence Office Trump Wants

Bill Pulte’s appointment as Acting Director of National Intelligence suggests that ODNI may now be serving a more political function than advising the president.
Jun. 3, 2026
A crowd waves a red and green flag with a man's photo in the center ringed in yellow or gold. The people are standing with their backs to the camera looking toward a compound behind a wall at about the level of their heads.

In Addition to Chinese Pressure, a Backsliding Democracy May Explain Zambia’s Decision to Cancel a Major Human Rights Summit

Zambia’s cancellation of RightsCon is an indication not only of China’s influence, but also the country's own democratic erosion under a government that promised otherwise.
Jun. 2, 2026 and
via aliens.gov

Dangerous Speech in Disguise: The White House’s New “Aliens” Website Is Not a Joke

The White House’s new Aliens.gov website uses fear, dehumanizing rhetoric, and conspiracy themes to build public support for mass deportations.
Jun. 1, 2026 and
Naija Raufi in a dark dress and a floral hijab stands at a balcony railing, overlooking the low- to medium-rise urban landscape of Athens, her back to the camera, alongside a young girl in a pink dress and pony tails in her dark hair.

I Was Afghanistan’s Attorney General. Here Is What Justice Looked Like — and What Destroyed It.

Afghanistan’s justice system took 20 years to build and 11 days to destroy. Former Attorney General Mohammad Farid Hamidi outlines the ongoing fight for accountability.
May 27, 2026
People walk in front of a large concrete and glass building with large columns and windows lit up under a darkened sky, maybe dusk or dawn. Four flags fly from the top of the building, at least two of them the flags of Poland, the others in shadow.

Planning for America’s Democratic Renewal Must Start Now: Lessons from Poland

Poland’s recovery from democratic backsliding shows how hard the process can be -- and why U.S. reformers should start planning now for lawful, durable renewal.
May 26, 2026 and

Collection: Counterextremism and Counterterrorism Initiative

Introducing Just Security's new Collection on the evolving threats of violent extremism and terrorism.
May 21, 2026
The facade of the ICC building.

Transnational Repression and the Case for International Criminal Accountability

International criminal law should be applied to transnational repression. The tools to do so may already exist.
May 12, 2026 and
The three officials sit next to each other at desks behind a solid, dark wood panel , with the flags of the EU, Hungary and Budapest arrayed behind them, and members of the press facing them in the foreground, some of them wearing headsets and one holding a mobile phone at the end of a selfie stick, recording the briefing.

What American Mayors Can Learn From Budapest

Amid democratic backsliding, Hungary's mayors helped maintain people's trust in government, demonstrating how local leaders can help reweave torn social fabric.
May 11, 2026
Four men, one in civilian clothes and the others in uniforms of khaki pants, olive shirts and berets, stand and sit on plastic chairs at the left of the image next to a broad concrete stairway on the right, leading to a green-painted double wooden doorway at the top of the stairs. The mostly white building is trimmed in green and tan.

International Crimes and Human Rights Violations Against Muslims in BJP-Ruled Indian States Require Urgent Action

The international community must redouble efforts to press Indian authorities for accountability in growing violence and rights abuses against Muslims.
May 4, 2026
People sit, their backs to the camera, in a large hall, watching a large TV screen on a platform that shows Ongwen's face. Two illegible banners hang on stands to the right of the screen. Two windows behind the platform are covered to shade the brightness and ease viewing of the television.

How to Acknowledge Forced Marriage as a Standalone Crime in the Draft Crimes Against Humanity Treaty

Adding forced marriage to the draft Crimes Against Humanity Convention would codify a distinct international crime, reflect its severe harms, and improve legal clarity.
May 1, 2026 and
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