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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3,183 Articles
Michael Atkinson leaves the U.S. Capitol south door.

Congress Should Take Steps to Protect the Independence of Inspectors General

In the aftermath of President Donald Trump’s assault on the federal government’s internal watchdogs -- the Inspector General (IG) community -- Congress should empower IGs with…
Inspector General of the Intelligence Community Michael Atkinson arrives for a closed-door hearing before the House Intelligence Committee in Washington, DC, on October 4, 2019.

Seek and Speak the Truth

Promoting an environment that supports truth-telling is vital to the Intelligence Community.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo hosts a conference call and makes an announcement with Governor Phil Murphy, Governor Ned Lamont, Governor Tom Wolf, Governor John Carney and Governor Gina Raimondo.

Governors and Mayors, Beware: Lawsuits Opposing Coronavirus Mitigation Orders Are a Real Threat

Lessons from when Confederacy-sympathizing judges tried to prevent Lincoln from saving the republic. By leading legal historian David Golove.
A temporary hospital is set up at the Jacob K. Javits Center on March 27, 2020 in New York. Cubicles with curtains are set up with a cot, a chair, a backpack, and a small garbage can each.

9/11 All Over Again

As in the days after 9/11, the current challenges stemming from COVID-19 seem unprecedented. But the parallels are striking.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman James Risch (R-ID) (L) and ranking member Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)

How Congress Can Save Lives, Protect Rights, and Exert U.S. Leadership Globally in Response to Coronavirus

Given the Trump administration’s foreign policy proclivities, it’s likely that Congress will have to do much of the heavy lifting.
paper work displayed on a glass panel during a hackathon competition reads "ISIS Inc Extremist Club"

The U.N. Needs Help Sustaining the Global Approach to Violent Extremism

Advocates have few forums to discuss implementation and sensitive issues such as government actions that contribute to radicalization.
People hold up placards during an anti-Islam protest on January 16, 2015 in Prague, Czech Republic.

The Toxic Confluence Online of Anti-Muslim Literature and Jihadist Messaging

An unusual and concerning detail emerged in a counterterrorism trial in the United Kingdom last month. A British Muslim, Mohiussunnath Chowdhury, was convicted in February of planning…
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (C) walks near other representatives during a vote about the government's bill on the protection against the new coronavirus COVID-19 at the plenary session of the Hungarian Parliament in Budapest, Hungary on March 30, 2020.

Threats to Democracy Spread with the Virus, We Must Keep Both in Check

In Hungary, the parliament has lost the ability to check the power of Viktor Orbán and his executive branch.
A man gets his temperature checked outside a barricade where community members control who comes in and out of a residential street on February 24, 2020 in Beijing, China. The police officer checking his temperature wears PPE over his shirt, a face shield, and a face mask. The thermometer he uses measures his wrist.

Beware of Political Manipulation in Assessing Success Against the Coronavirus

Now, at a moment when we need a coordinated and transparent global response, the full scale and scope of the global democratic erosion comes into view.
Trump speaks during a briefing on the coronavirus pandemic, in the press briefing room of the White House on March 24, 2020 in Washington, DC. Pence stands behind him. Neither wear face masks.

Keeping an Eye on the Civil Liberties Impact of Trump’s Coronavirus Response

Now is the time to be vigilant for attempts to leverage the crisis to obtain or retain powers that unnecessarily infringe on rights and liberties.
Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers assist the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) in setting up the Oregon Medical Station (OMS) at the Oregon State Fairgrounds, March 19, 2020. The soldiers do not wear face masks and set up cots in a large room.

Military’s Response to the Coronavirus Crisis: Top 10 Principles

Ten key principles to follow as policymakers seek to utilize the military in a manner that is innovative, responsive to the crisis, and consistent with the rule of law.
A memorial for Dr. Li Wenliang, who was the whistleblower of the Coronavirus, Covid-19, that originated in Wuhan, China and caused the doctors death in that city, is pictured outside the UCLA campus in Westwood, California, on February 15, 2020.

One Doctor’s Place in China’s Battle for the COVID-19 Narrative

The Chinese Communist Party’s evolving effort to re-brand Dr. Li as a loyal soldier in their fight against COVID-19 captures the dramatic, unsettled state of the Chinese Communist…
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