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.

× Clear Filters
3,333 Articles
Ammon Bundy, the leader of an armed militia, speaks to members of the media in front of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters on January 5, 2016 near Burns, Oregon regarding the militia’s protest of the jailing of two ranchers for arson.

The Passionate Intensity of Ammon Bundy and the People’s Rights Movement

Ammon Bundy remains an influential figure, and as Jan. 6 proved, the well of anti-government sentiment is deeper than many realized.
Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as people try to storm the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. The insurrectionists wear riot gear as do the police. One insurrectionist raises a police baton attacking the police.

The Next Best Option if a January 6 Commission Fails

"On balance, a House select committee is not the optimal vehicle to investigate the January 6 insurrection.... but it might be the best one available." How this path could be made…

Same Data, Same Strategy: A New Look at How the Trump Campaign and Russian Intelligence Operated in 2016

The recent Biden administration sanctions on the Russian government are part of an ongoing effort to push back against the Kremlin’s malign influence campaign against the West.…
Temel Atacocugu wipes tears with a tissue as he speaks on behalf of the injured during the National Remembrance Service at Christchurch Arena on March 13, 2021 in Christchurch, New Zealand. Another person stands nearby with a hand on his shoulder in a comforting manner.

On Christchurch Call Anniversary, a Step Closer to Eradicating Terrorism Online?

Governments, including now the US, and companies take stock on the second anniversary of the New Zealand mosque shootings.
Protesters wearing traditional Shan dress hold signs as they take part in a demonstration on boats against the Myanmar military coup in Inle lake, Shan state on February 11, 2021. One boat carries people holding letters spelling out, “Get out dictators.”

Beyond the Coup in Myanmar: The Need for an Inclusive Accountability

The Feb. 1 coup made it clear that when it comes to maintaining its grip on power, the Tatmadaw does not discriminate. The brutality with which it has consistently engaged with…
U.S. Capitol police officers point their guns at a door that was vandalized in the House Chamber during the January 06, 2021 attack on the Capitol in Washington, DC.

The World Is Watching: The US Should Follow Its Own Advice and Establish a 1/6 Commission

Overseas, the U.S. government has repeatedly advocated for – and even demanded – commissions in the wake of national crises similar to Jan. 6.
Members of the electoral table count votes at a polling station during elections to choose mayors, councilors and a commission to rewrite the constitution in Santiago, on May 16, 2021. They wear face masks as they look through pikes of papers.

Want the Summit for Democracy to Develop Solutions? Include Local Governments

From mayors to governors, they are the face of representative democracy to most citizens, and are responsible for addressing needs with effective policy.
The 9-11 Commission sits at the front of a lecture hall on a pannel. The seats in the hall are nearly filled.

Interview with Philip Shenon: Lessons from the Uncensored History of the 9/11 Commission

Bestselling author of behind-the-scenes book on the 9/11 Commission discusses internal operations and informal powers with lessons for a 1/6 Commission.
Supreme Court Building

Folly at the Supreme Court: Choosing Between Competing Originalist Claims

Former White House Counsel Neil Eggleston says that a dispute about removal power illustrates the fool's errand of originalism: history is messy, complex, and disputed, offering…
Spent bullet casings are seen lying on the ground near the spot where Chit Min Thu, 25, was killed in clashes on March 11, 2021 in Yangon, Myanmar.

Beyond the Coup in Myanmar: A Crisis Born from Impunity

The roots of the coup can be found both domestically, in the 2008 Constitution, and in the failure of the international community to hold Myanmar's military to account.
Indonesian police wearing face masks and carrying large guns guard the site of an ASEAN emergency meeting on Myanmar on April 24, 2021 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Beyond the Coup in Myanmar: The ASEAN Way Must Change

The regional bloc has long adopted a non-interventionist stance in the name of regional stability. But the Myanmar coup shows how this stance actually undermines stability - and…
Senator James E. Risch (R-ID), Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), and Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) attend a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on US-Venezuela Relations and the Path to a Democratic Transition on Capitol Hill March 7, 2019 in Washington, DC.

The Hidden Rules that Govern Our Supply Chains

Despite the explosion in the use of hidden trade deals in recent years, Congress has only barely spoken to the problem. It doesn’t have to be that way. But proposed changes in…
1-12 of 3,333 items

DON'T MISS A THING. Stay up to date with Just Security curated newsletters: