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

If the US Wants to Push Back on Authoritarian Agendas at the UN, Get Counterterrorism Right
If the Biden administration is serious about promoting democracy and pushing back on authoritarianism, then it’s time for a policy response that confronts the way in which counterterrorism…

The Capitol Assault and the Continuing Threat: A Podcast Conversation with Elizabeth Neumann
What was President Trump’s likely awareness of social media postings by extremists who signaled their intent to commit violence and assault the Capitol in advance of January…

Violent Extremism and the Governance Challenge
Revisiting "Human rights impact of policies and practices aimed at preventing and countering violent extremism," a recent assessment of the P/CVE field released last year at the…

New Aid for Israeli-Palestinian Peacebuilding Aims at Issues Underlying Security
The Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act provides an unprecedented $250 million over five years for economic and people-to-people projects.

Unprecedented Threats to Journalists & Civil Society Activists Are Threatening Afghanistan
Who benefits from the killing of journalists, human rights activists, and civil society members in Afghanistan? What purposes could it serve and for whom?

De-platforming Is a Fix, But Only a Short-Term One
Conspiracy theorists and disinformation remain in the world and online. At the end of the day, solving that problem will require more than just a technical solution.

“Fight for Trump”: Video Evidence of Incitement at the Capitol
New video footage scraped from Parler, and former federal prosecutors' reactions.

Gaps in Trump’s Pardons: How the Biden Administration Can Still Pursue Justice
Former FBI General Counsel and top prosecutor in Special Counsel's Office explains how the pardons for Bannon, Manafort, Stone left the door open for Justice Department to now…

U.S.-ICC Relations Under a Biden Administration: Room to Be Bold
The Trump administration approached the ICC with open and unproductive hostility. Can Biden reset relations? Kip Hale says yes: first, remove sanctions. Second, investigate and…

The American Insurrection Was a Gain for Dictators, and a Loss for Zimbabweans
The Jan. 6 Capitol riot marked a setback for millions of people around the world who yearn for more democratic societies where their voices matter.

On Biden’s Planned Summit: Humility, Not Hubris, Can Save Democracy
The voices of those who have suffered most from democracy’s ills are crucial to understanding – and addressing -- the impact of backsliding laws, policies, and institutions…

US Human Rights Policy: How to Really Build Back Better
The Biden administration must create a system in which human rights and democracy policymaking is embedded and integrated in its decision-making machinery.