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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3,335 Articles
Trump speaks with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, during a diner at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on March 7, 2020.

The Demise of Government: The Grim Task of Undoing Trump’s Damage

We have begun to see the unwinding of modern America. The effects will not simply evaporate when this president leaves office.
A garden around a makeshift memorial to George Floyd, built by a nonprofit youth empowerment group, is pictured near the site where he died in police custody, in Minneapolis, Minnesota on June 17, 2020.

Transitional Justice, Race, and the United States

As a scholar of transitional justice, I am heartened by efforts to de-exceptionalize the United States and to bring race and anti-Black racism into conversation with international…
Fort Bragg Air Assault School

Decoy Amendment Jeopardizes the Moment for Renaming Confederate-Dubbed Bases

The measure would undermine otherwise bipartisan efforts to address these issues, including several worthy alternative proposals.
John Elias, a career official in the Justice Department's antitrust division, is sworn in before the House Judiciary committee hearing on "Oversight of the Department of Justice: Political Interference and Threats to Prosecutorial Independence", on Capitol Hill on June 24, 2020 in Washington DC.

11 Top Antitrust Experts Alarmed by Whistleblower Complaint Against A.G. Barr—and Office of Professional Responsibility’s Opinion

"I was surprised to find every one of the 11 experts was alarmed by the allegations and several were highly critical of the Office of Professional Responsibility's handling of…
National Guard Soldiers stand in a line blocking a side street along a Black Lives Matter rally in Boston, MA on June 3, 2020.

National Guard Risks and Recommendations in Public Order Management

Since the tragic murder of George Floyd by police on May 25, more than 20 states have activated National Guard units to support local law enforcement in response to protests…
LEFT - The D.C. National Guard in camo uniforms, helmets, googles, and face masks stand on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial as demonstrators [not seen in the photo] participate in a peaceful protest against police brutality and the death of George Floyd, on June 2, 2020 in Washington, DC. RIGHT - British troops patrol the streets of Belfast June 21, 2001 following fierce fighting the previous night in Ardoyne, a mostly Catholic area in north Belfast, Northern Ireland. They appear to be hiding behind a van.

Northern Ireland’s Lessons for American Policing

Not that long ago, Americans would regularly go to Northern Ireland to offer advice on reforming the region’s notoriously repressive policing. Happily for Northern Ireland, and…
Police stand at a crosswalk in front of a building with a chain link and tarp fence which protesters have written on.

Why the Calls to Deploy Military Force in the US Protests Weren’t Surprising

Trump's and Cotton's rhetoric might be extreme, but the concepts they espouse are simply a culmination of a trend unfolding over at least 50 years.
U.S. Attorney General nominee William Barr testifies at his confirmation hearing as his image is shown on a television monitor behind him January 15, 2019 in Washington, DC.

Specific Questions for Congress (and News Media) to Ask Attorney General Barr

Former Department of Justice, FBI, and Pentagon officials have specific questions to ask Bill Barr. Plus an invitation for readers to send in their questions to add to the list.
Members of the Mexican National Guard in face masks monitor the General Hoptital of ISSSTEl on June 9, 2020 in Queretaro, Mexico.

COVID-19 en México: ¿Está en Riesgo la Democracia

Para entender lo que está pasando en México, es importante considerar tres factores contextuales: los niveles de conflicto político en constante crecimiento, el espiral de violencia,…
Members of the Mexican National Guard in face masks monitor the General Hoptital of ISSSTEl on June 9, 2020 in Queretaro, Mexico.

COVID-19 in Mexico: Democracy is Not at Risk?

To understand what is happening in Mexico, it is important to consider three contextual factors: the ever-increasing levels of political conflict, the spiral of violence, and the…
National Security Advisor John Bolton

Bolton Book Confirms Most Serious Allegations in Trump Impeachment on Ukraine Quid Pro Quo

What John Bolton's book says about how President Donald Trump acted toward Ukraine and the 2020 elections.
Staff prepare an empty General Assembly hall for elections by secret ballot without a plenary meeting.

National Security at the United Nations This Week (June 12-19)

(Editor’s Note: This is the latest in Just Security’s weekly series keeping readers up to date on developments at the United Nations at the intersection of national security,…
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