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.
3,165 Articles

The Just Security Podcast: Regulating Social Media — Is it Lawful, Feasible, and Desirable?
Is it lawful, feasible, and desirable for government actors to regulate social media platforms? A conversation with leading experts at the NYU Law Forum.

Dissecting the Trump Administration’s Strategy for Defying Court Orders
The Trump administration is banking on Americans giving it a pass on violating District Chief Judge Judge Boasberg's court order.

Congress Spotlight: The Minority’s Toolbox and a Possible Way Forward
The minority’s powers in Congress are limited—they cannot call hearings or issue subpoenas. But they do have a wide menu of options.

The New “Blacklists” Work When Law Firms Stay Silent
In a recent internal memo, Brad Karp, the chairman of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, defended the firm’s refusal to challenge a presidential executive order targeting…

The Imperative of Solidarity in Response to Assaults on Legal Services, Universities, and Independent Media
"Around the globe who have had decades of experience in navigating a world where simply looking out for one’s own best interests is insufficient for individual or collective…

What A Corrupt Police Network in the Dominican Republic Reveals About Arms Trafficking
How do arms trafficking and state corruption networks in Latin America operate, and how they can be disrupted?

The Courts Can Stop Abuse of the Alien Enemies Act – the Political Question Doctrine is No Bar
Many of the emergency powers a president could unlock through pretextual invocations and arbitrary proclamations are injurious to a free, fair, and democratic society. The courts…

Trump Move to Eliminate VOA, RFE/RL Ignores Lessons of Global Power
The world needs Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) broadcast and online outlets now more than ever.

Journalists Who Took Risks for US-Funded Broadcasters Threatened Anew by Trump Shutdown
The political and human risks of shutting down Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Voice of America and their fellow US-funded media outlets.

U.S. AI-Driven “Catch and Revoke” Initiative Threatens First Amendment Rights
The State Department's AI-enabled "Catch and Revoke" initiative will dissuade individuals from exercising First Amendment-protected activities.

The US Government’s Self-Harm in Killing Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
RFE/RL's decades-long record of success demands something other than summary termination based on unsupported accusations.

Duterte at the ICC: A Significant Step Toward Justice in the Philippines
Last week, what had long seemed impossible to victims seeking justice for the killings from the Philippine “war on drugs” finally happened: the ICC's arrest of former President…