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.
3,165 Articles
A Step in the Right Direction for Prepublication Review
A recent clarification could help former government employees who once held security clearances publicly write and speak more freely.
The Most Indefensible Aspects of DOJ’s Briefs in the Birthright Citizenship Cases
Updated to account for reply briefs and Feb. 5 judicial opinion issuing a nationwide preliminary injunction
The Dangerous Sweep of Trump’s Plan to Designate Cartels as Terrorist Organizations
Bringing foreign cartels under the umbrella of terrorism may seem appealing, but it is unnecessary and dangerous.
The Just Security Podcast: Diving Deeper into DeepSeek
Brianna Rosen, Lennart Heim, Keegan McBride, & Lauren Wagner discuss what DeepSeek means for national security and U.S. policy going forward.
What Happens After the Most Powerful Media Institutions Keep Surrendering to Trump
U.S. media institutions are abandoning their own First Amendment rights by settling lawsuits with Trump, writes Jaffer for the New York Times.
Nine Experts on the Impact of President Trump’s Pardons and Commutations for January 6 Offenders
We asked nine experts about what clemencies might herald for the future of the rule of law, political violence, and extremism.
What DeepSeek Really Changes About AI Competition
Beyond the hype, a crucial look at the real costs of China's DeepSeek, why compute still matters, and what US policymakers should do about it.
From Pardons to Purges: Pressing Questions that Bondi and Patel Must Answer Now
McCord weighs in on the nominations for attorney general and FBI director.
Can the President Dissolve USAID by Executive Order?
Dissolution of USAID or formal transfer of its functions provided by Congress would require legislation - the president may not unilaterally override a statute by executive order.
Federal Employee Rights: What Probationary Employees Need to Know
With so much uncertainty facing federal employees, many on probation want to know what their rights are—especially when it comes to actions against their employment like removing…
Surge of Hate Speech in the Sahel, Including on WhatsApp, Signals Atrocity Risk
The threat is greatest in central Mali, but persecution of the Fulbe (Fulani) across the region seeds fertile ground for ethnic cleansing.
What Just Happened: Trump’s Termination of West Bank Settler Sanctions
The reversal of Biden measures against Israeli settlers leaves few tools in the event an escalation threatens further conflict in the region.