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.
3,152 Articles

Bill Barr’s Hidden Truths About Justice Department’s Rule of Forbearance in an Election
Revelations of what Barr said in a deposition under oath in 1995 and in a private Oval Office meeting with President Bush.

Does Cy Vance Already Have the Trump Organization Tax Returns?
The Manhattan DA may already have obtained the pertinent New York state tax returns for the Trump Organization and its executives, including Trump and his family. If this is the…

Bringing Abolition to National Security
"Though far less explored, abolition may also be the most promising option for dealing with discriminatory national security laws and policies. Without understanding the historical,…

State Dept. Inspector General Report: A Troubling Message on Arms Sales
"A stunning revelation given the repeated, severe cases of civilian casualties resulting from Saudi-led Coalition operations over the past several years."

Hardwired Against Change: Race, Incarceration, and COVID-19
"Given the unique risks of exposure, infection, and death in prisons, jails and detention centers, challenging carceral secrecy is even more important than ever in the midst of…

Breaking Ranks in a Civil-Military Crisis: Strategic Communication to Register Dissent
Military leaders have principled options to address a legally questionable political decision while maintaining the rule of law and civilian control.

Manafort’s Reward: Sen. Ron Johnson and the Ukraine Conspiracy Investigation: Part II
How Senator Johnson’s efforts have worked in tandem with Paul Manafort’s efforts — as the former Trump campaign chair has likely remained silent in exchange for a pardon.

Timeline: The Trump Administration and the U.S. Postal Service
A timeline of the pivotal events shaping the U.S. Postal Service that brought us to today's crisis.

Does Mali’s Coup Advance Democracy?
What are the implications of accepting or inviting military intervention in domestic politics in Mali and beyond?

The Cost of Resilience: The Roots and Impacts of the Beirut Blast
The Aug. 4 explosion at the Beirut port is not the cause of catastrophe in Lebanon, it is the result. To understand its causes and impacts, we must look to what came before, including…

How the US and the EU Can Support Belarus Amid Its Historic Protests
The US should work with the EU to isolate Lukashenko and his lieutenants with targeted sanctions, and facilitate a peaceful transition with new elections.

“Head-On Into Peril”: Connecting 9/11 and Law Enforcement Abuses in Portland
"It was no accident that people of color (primarily Black and Latino Americans, and Muslims around the world) were the primary targets of both military and police agencies post-9/11…