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.
3,181 Articles
Solidarity Needed Amid Stranglehold on Belarusian Lawyers
Belarusian lawyers face severe threats under a near-total State-controlled legal system with hundreds disbarred or exiled simply for doing their jobs.
The Senate’s Dilemma: Kash Patel and the Purging of the FBI
Analysis of Kash Patel's nomination for FBI director in light of DOJ purge of FBI personnel and Patel's new answers to questions for record.
Connecting the Dots: Trump’s Tightening Grip on Press Freedom
The president and his allies are leading an effort to eviscerate the free press and construct an information ecosystem favorable to his views.
Q&A with Marietje Schaake on the Tech Coup and Trump
A Q&A with Marietje Schaake, author of The Tech Coup: How to Save Democracy from Silicon Valley, on Big Tech and threats to democracy.
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.