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.
3,335 Articles

A “Twitter Chat” About COVID-19: Ethical Dilemmas in a Pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic is highlighting ethical issues for everyday citizens and healthcare workers. The public health has become more important than ever. Information is changing,…

The Legally Troubling Treatment of COVID-19 Meetings as Classified
I represented the government until late 2018, and I've got serious concerns, writes former Deputy Director of Appellate Staff of Department of Justice's Civil Division.

Blowing the Transatlantic Whistle
U.S. courts have been reluctant to extend the same protections they afford domestic informants to employees of American companies based abroad.

The Coronavirus, Emergency Powers, and the Military: What You Need to Know
The global coronavirus crisis continues to unfold at lightning speed, disrupting travel, the economy, and everyday life. In response to the pandemic, President Donald Trump declared…

Sen. Van Hollen Calls for Paoletta to Relinquish Role as OMB’s Top Ethics Official
Mark Paoletta, the general counsel at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), needs to recuse himself from ongoing inquiries into the Trump administration’s withholding of…

Pandemics and Human Rights
Some governments use a crisis as a pretext to infringe rights. Others retain over-broad emergency powers after the crisis subsides.

Timeline on Jared Kushner, Qatar, 666 Fifth Avenue, and White House Policy
A comprehensive account of Jared Kushner, 666 Fifth Avenue, and White House support for the blockade of Qatar after the Qataris rejected Kushner Companies.

West Africa’s Democratic Progress is Slipping Away, Even as Region’s Significance Grows
Democratic norms may erode further in 2020, says Freedom House. The fundamental rights of West Africa’s nearly 400 million people are in jeopardy.

Why the 2020 Election Will Be A Mess Part II: Beyond Russian Disinformation
As anger in the U.S. grows, the threat of political violence also builds, providing the Russian government another opportunity to divide the country.

About Those FBI Counterterrorism Assessments …
Will a recent inspector general report encourage the FBI to be more, not less, aggressive in the use of Type III assessments in counterterrorism cases without adequate constitutional…

A Model for Countering Foreign Disinformation and Interference in Elections
There’s a model the U.S. government applied in the counterterrorism context that provides a potential template for addressing the election interference threat over the long run.

Facebook Bylaws for Takedown Oversight Board: Questions of Independence
The board should select and decide cases without interference. But trustees and the company retain authority on issues underpinning its independence.