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
Why it’s a mistake to be a-waitin’ “the” Mueller Report (and why you should instead focus on two other reports)
OLC’s governing view of the constitutionality of a grand jury indictment of a sitting president therefore doesn't stand in the way of DOJ providing a comprehensive account to…
Body Counts Are Terrible Way for the Public to Assess US Counter-Terrorism Operations
Retired General Charlie Dunlap writes that partial transparency on civilian casualty reports may be worse than none.
New Zealand Attacks: A Wake-Up Call to Counter Far-Right Extremist Violence
With the attacks over the last year—including those in Charleston, Pittsburgh, Toronto, and now New Zealand, among many others—it’s time to collectively and unequivocally…
DRC’s Presidential Transition: `Peaceful’ Maybe, but Signs of Backsliding
Last week, the new president of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Felix Tshisekedi, entered into a coalition government with the party of his predecessor, Joseph Kabila.…
‘Fixer’ Unbound: Public Confidence in Attorneys, Not Just the President, at Stake
Lawyers may be judged by the company they keep, but not by the clients they represent. Attorneys routinely advocate positions they disfavor on behalf of clients whose views and…
Reflecting on the Civilian Casualty Executive Order: What Was Lost and What Can Now Be Gained
What information did the public just lose with Trump's decision, and what can Congress do beyond just restoring it? Civilian casualties in wartime reporting and minimization.
Why Violent Extremism Still Spreads
Since 2001, the international community has spent enormous intellectual and political capital debating and negotiating the definition of violent extremism to design effective strategies…
I Helped Write the Exec Order on Public Reporting of Lethal Operations. Here’s What Trump Has Undone.
"Multiple press accounts have cited some of the key problems with the rescission, the backlash from transparency advocates, and why, unsurprisingly, the Trump administration has…
President Trump’s Cronyism and Excesses Should Prompt Security Clearance Reform
The Trump years threaten to become a boiling point for numerous simmering constitutional conflicts, but one of the most innocuous-looking might end up being one of the most important.…
Trump’s Revocation of Reporting on Lethal Strikes: All Eyes on Congress, Now
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order revoking a section of President Barack Obama’s Executive Order on civilian casualties that required annual reporting…
The Ripening: The House Judiciary Committee Investigation Will Bear Fruit
The House Judiciary Committee sent out document requests to 81 parties associated with President Donald Trump in its wide-ranging investigation into “allegations of corruption,…
Colombian President’s Veto Threat Challenges Peace Process
Colombian President Ivan Duque is threatening to veto legislation that would endorse and regulate a special tribunal established to address atrocities committed during the country’s…