Democracy & Rule of Law
Democratic Backsliding & Solutions
185 Articles

State and Administrative Law Backstops to Federal Corruption
How the Administrative Procedure Act and state unfair competition laws could be used to punish, deter, or expose corruption in the federal government.

Dubious Delistings: Unexplained U.S. Sanctions Removals for the Corrupt and Well-Connected
U.S. targeted sanctions have long promoted accountability, but recent removals under Trump raise concerns about opacity, favoritism, and weakening human rights enforcement.

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.

Can Socially Cohesive Neighborhoods Protect Democracy from Political Violence?
Rising political violence discourages civic engagement, but socially cohesive neighborhoods help Americans stay politically active and committed to democracy.

Hungary’s Election Is Already Paying Dividends for the EU and Ukraine. Is the U.S. Next?
Peter Magyar's election defeat of Viktor Orban in Hungary is easing relations with the EU and Ukraine. The course correction could even reverberate in the U.S.

The Fatal Flaws in Georgia’s National Police Modernization
Georgia’s police reform reduced corruption and modernized policing, but it left law enforcement vulnerable to executive control, raising deeper concerns about autonomy.
The Just Security Podcast: Sudan Enters Its Fourth Year of Civil War
Quscondy Abdulshafi joins host Viola Gienger to discuss how Sudan got to this point, how the international community has responded, and where to go next.

The Trump Administration’s Fraud Problem
The Trump administration invokes “fraud” to justify freezing Medicaid, SNAP, and family aid, sidestepping legal safeguards and turning vital programs into political weapons.

The Tightrope Walk of Democratic Defense: Lessons from Taiwan’s Platform Governance Challenge
The safeguards emerging from Taiwan's effort to address information manipulation risks offer democracies a platform governance roadmap.

Hungary’s Election Could End Orbán’s Rule — But Will It End His Power?
Hungary's parliamentary election will test Prime Minister Viktor Orban's strength, as well as whether a change could successfully undo 16 years of autocratic rule.

The Judicial Reckoning for the Abuse of Presidential Power in Korea
A South Korean judge on how the South Korean judicial system served as a bulwark of democratic resilience in the face of a constitutional crisis.

What the Latest Session of the Commission on the Status of Women Reveals About Global Rights
CSW emphasized that women are at the forefront of combating global backsliding, and preserving their rights remains central to protecting rule of law and global stability.