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.
3,333 Articles
Terrorism Might Be the Least of Our Problems a Year After America’s Withdrawal from Afghanistan
Beyond counterterrorism, Afghanistan remains a key theater for great power competition and U.S. security interests.
Rebooting Bosnia’s Constitutional Reform Process
A recent election law debacle calls for a major rethink of Western policy in Bosnia, rooted in genuine democratic principles.
Assessing Trump’s Claim of ‘Executive Privilege’ on FBI Access to MAL Docs
"In short, the notion that a former president can block his successor from accessing presidential records that the incumbent believes he needs for purposes of carrying out executive…
The Biden Administration Should Begin its “War on Secrecy” by Releasing Key War Powers Reports
Providing a meaningful report to Congress - and the American public - on legal and policy frameworks governing the use of force and related national security operations is not…
Need for US Ethics Reform Is Far from History: Kushner-MBS Deal Reflects Broken System
Recommended reforms include a two-year post-employment ban preventing senior and very senior officials from working on behalf of foreign governments, plus exploring options for…
Whistleblower Documents Show Problems in Twitter’s Handling of ‘Election Integrity’
Insights into how Twitter appears unprepared to handle "election integrity" issues in U.S. and globally. Plus what happened with Jan. 6 and 2020 elections.
The Curious Case of Alvin Bragg — Reconsidering the DA’s Trump investigation
An expert analysis of how Manhattan' District Attorney Alvin Bragg may be playing a multi-level chess game in prosecution of Trump entities and associates.
Abusive “Counterterrorism” Crackdowns Choke Independent Civil Society in the Middle East
Abusive counterterrorism practices—whether in Saudi Arabia, Israel, or elsewhere—threaten fundamental norms and undermine the rule of law.
How the FY23 NDAA Can Strengthen U.S. Efforts to Prevent and Respond to Civilian Harm (Part I)
Overhauling U.S. policies for preventing and responding to civilian harm will require sustained engagement from Congress.
Human Rights in the Crosshairs
"Some of the critiques of human rights have merit. … But some critiques go too far."
The US Must Help Fight the Criminalization of Activism in Central America, Not Make It Worse
Without safeguards, promoting private-sector investment to slow migration risks fueling a crisis for human rights defenders.
Seditious Conspiracy vs. Insurrection: Assessing the Evidence Against Trump
The Justice Department’s current investigation of criminal efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election apparently is taking two paths. One investigative…