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.
3,161 Articles
What Has Bill Barr Done to Earn the Benefit of the Doubt?
Luppe Luppen critiques James Comey's and Benjamin Wittes's claim that the public should assume good faith on the part of Bill Barr.
Beyond Sanctioning Elusive War Criminals, Prosecute the Profiteers
Bidibidi is the world’s second-largest refugee camp. A sea of tents and huts spilling into Uganda from its northern border, the settlement now hosts more than a quarter million…
The Government’s Own Documents Show that Prepublication Review is Broken
In First Amendment lawsuit, groups obtain thousands of documents (through Freedom of Information Act litigation) that raise concerns about how the government censors the writings…
Revisiting Carter Page
With Robert Mueller’s probe of Russian electoral interference finally complete—even though the public is still waiting to learn what it says—many Republicans are declaring…
A Public-Health Approach to Countering Violent Extremism
The recent horrific attack on two mosques in New Zealand has again prompted criticism that the United States and the international community fail to address violence committed…
Costs of War Can’t Be Assessed Without Official Civilian Casualty Estimates
A response to Maj. General Charles Dunlap and others who argue that tracking civilian casualties is like tallying "body counts" in Vietnam.
The House Oversight Committee Squeeze on White House Security Practices
Over the last several weeks, the House Oversight and Reform Committee has been busy documenting allegations from a whistleblower who stepped forward to raise concerns about security…
How Barr May Interpret What It Means to Withhold “Grand Jury Information”
While federal rules govern grand jury secrecy, they contain room for interpretation. Here's how the Attorney General may interpret them broadly to hide a large swath of Mueller's…
Letter to the Editor: Where Luke Hartig and I Agree on Drones (it’s more than you might think)
Luke Hartig’s critique of my essay, “Body Counts Are Terrible Way for the Public to Assess US Counter-Terrorism Operations” is a thoughtful one, and I urge everyone to read…
Scramble to Erase New Zealand Attack Videos Exposes Pitfalls Too
The white supremacist who attacked two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, created a Facebook livestream of his assault that spread at an alarming rate. At times, YouTube said,…
After Elections in a Country at War, Another Battle for Ukraine’s Future Still Needs Support
As Ukrainians prepare to head to the polls on March 31, much of the international community remains focused on Russia’s territorial aggression in the Donbas and Crimea and its…
As the Mueller Investigation Closes, New York Investigations Shift into High Gear
On Friday March 21, 2019, the investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller came to a close when he delivered his final report to Attorney General William Barr. Two days later,…