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.

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3,363 Articles
Nehemiah Frank holds his cousin David McIntye II as they stand in front of a mural depicting the violence of the Tulsa massacre and teaches him the history of the attack in the Greenwood district, on May 28, 2021 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Reckoning with State-Sanctioned Racial Violence: Lessons from the Tulsa Race Massacre

Top legal scholar outlines five "features of what a capacious commitment to democratic repair in the wake of state violence might mean" for Tulsa.
Hughes Van Ellis, a Tulsa Race Massacre survivor and World War II veteran, and Viola Fletcher, oldest living survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre, testify before the Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Subcommittee hearing on "Continuing Injustice: The Centennial of the Tulsa-Greenwood Race Massacre" on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on May 19, 2021. Some people sit in the seats behind them, but the room is not full allowing for social distancing. Most people wear face masks.

Introduction to Just Security’s Series on Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921

This article introduces a new series on the hundredth anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre. The series will bring together experts to re-examine different aspects of the Tulsa…
Silhouettes of ROTC cadets against a clear blue sky with clouds.

What Do Future U.S. Generals Think About Dissent, Disobedience, and Resignation?

Survey research suggests respect for civilian-control appears to be the exception, not the norm, among a significant portion of the senior military officers who participated.
CIA Director John Brennan and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, arrive to testify during a US House Committee on Intelligence hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, September 10, 2015.

A New Consensus Around Transparency and National Security Surveillance

Civil libertarian arguments that were dismissed a decade ago are now broadly accepted, even at the highest levels of the intelligence community.
Myanmar migrants in Thailand take part in a protest against the military coup in their home country, in front of the United Nations ESCAP building in Bangkok on March 7, 2021. They wear face masks to protect themselves from contracting COVID-19. Many wave the flag of Myanmar.

Beyond the Coup: Can the United Nations Escape Its History in Myanmar?

After decades of awkward and all-around frustrating engagement, the U.N. needs to step forward with a more flexible and conscious approach that shows it has learned from past mistakes.
People gather in front of the White House on August 13, 2017 in Washington, DC for a candle light vigil in response to the death of a counter-protestor in the August 12th white supremacist "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. A woman holds a sign reading, “Hate can not drive out hate, only love can do that. –MLK”

Why Fighting White Supremacy Is Important for America’s Role in World

Only by addressing its most dire democracy crises at home can the United States speak with authority abroad.
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.
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