Democracy & Rule of Law
Just Security’s expert authors provide analysis on threats and challenges to democracy and the rule of law in the United States and globally. Coverage includes analysis of the separation of powers, good governance, democratic backsliding, authoritarianism, judicial independence, freedom of the press and association, and accountability for rule of law violations.
Highlights:
Will Trump Take the Win at NATO’s Ankara Summit?
It is an open question whether the Trump administration seeks to rebalance NATO or disengage the U.S. from European security.
Sanitized and Unreviewable: Unpacking the Supreme Court’s Mullin v Doe on Ending Temporary Protected Status for 1.3m Noncitizens
Leading immigration expert unpacks the Supreme Court's ruling on temporary protected status for Haitian and Syrian residents in U.S.
As U.N. Secretary-General Candidates Make Pitch to be Mediator-in-Chief, Will Peacebuilding End Up On the Cutting Room Floor?
A U.N. pivot back to conflict mediation, suggested in the secretary-general search, will only reap dividends if peacebuilding is high on the next leader's agenda.
Immigration Habeas Tracker: Government Obstruction, Judicial Trust, and Accountability
A comprehensive study of immigration habeas litigation from the second Trump administration, assessing how courts responded to protect judicial authority and individual rights.
Timeline of Boat Strikes and Related Actions
A timeline that chronicles major events in the Trump administration’s campaign of lethal strikes against suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.
More Than an Own Goal: Understanding U.S. World Cup Choices as a Message About Hard and Soft Power
The American people, as the ultimate owners of the country's soft power, can convey a desire for international engagement even as the government chooses a different message.
3,360 Articles
How Defending Free Speech Can Unite Unlikely Allies
The Trump administration's threats to First Amendment rights have inspired a broad front defending free speech, freedom of the press, protest rights and more.
Litigation Tracker: Legal Challenges to Trump Administration Actions
A public resource tracking all the legal challenges to the Trump administration's executive orders and actions.
U.S. Export Control Unpredictability Is Testing the Limits of U.S.-India Tech Cooperation
The U.S. shift away from a rules-based export regime amid a race for AI leadership is causing India to hedge against a heavy reliance on American technology.
Fencing with Fourth Amendment: Unpacking the Supreme Court’s Chatrie Decision
Chatrie stands as an important but narrow reaffirmation of the Supreme Court’s determination not to let technology overwhelm all privacy expectations in the digital age.
The Handover of AI Standard-Setting
Providers, not regulators, are increasingly setting the standards against which their own AI systems are measured.
Will States Address Disability Invisibility in the Crimes Against Humanity Convention?
Only two of 64 proposed amendments submitted by U.N. member States for a draft Crimes Against Humanity Convention enumerate disability as a specific protected category.
Seeking Justice the Day After SCOTUS Killed the Alien Tort Statute
As surely as day follows night, survivors will continue their quest for justice and accountability. The Supreme Court’s decision marks the end of an era, but a new dawn awaits.
Reflections from Today’s Judiciary on the Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence
Many actions taken by the current administration echo the grievances laid out in the Declaration of Independence against King George III.
In Blanche v. Lau, the Supreme Court Rewards the Solicitor General’s Bait-and-Switch at Green Card Holders’ Expense
Lawful permanent residents are left to wonder when it is safe to travel for business, family reasons, or pleasure without jeopardizing their status and day-to-day lives.
Why Interpol’s Member Nations Should Reject Its New Privileges and Immunities Agreement
The accord would make it easier for autocrats to abuse Interpol’s famous Red Notices and other mechanisms to persecute those seeking refuge abroad from repression at home.
Corruption Sanctions Have Their Flaws. Impose Them Anyway.
Corruption sanctions may not break networks or force behavioral change. But as part of a broader diplomatic strategy, they protect U.S. systems and amplify reform efforts.
As Governments Silence Critics During War, Writers Are Among the First to Pay the Price
Crackdowns on writers, culture, and free expression during war emerged as a key trend in PEN America's 2025 data for the latest annual Freedom to Write Index.