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.

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3,161 Articles

Explainer: Rosenstein’s Potential Departure and What Comes Next for Russia and Hush Money Investigation

Who will supervise the Russia and Hush Money investigations after Rod Rosenstein?

Why Support for U.N.-backed Anti-Corruption Commission in Guatemala is Vital to U.S. Interests

The ongoing constitutional crisis in Guatemala underscores concerns that corruption continues to permeate high levels of the government.

We Have Nothing to Fear But FEAR Itself

What Woodward's book says, in particular, about Russia investigation is riddled with problems.

Putin Had a Win-Win Strategy for Life Post-2016; Trump, Not So Much

Putin didn't just count on Clinton losing. He also counted on her winning. Three former U.S. Intelligence Community officials analyze Putin's likely strategic thinking in 2016…

From Sweeping Punishment to Real Justice in Countering Terrorism

A study led by the United Nations University that examined punitive efforts in Iraq, Nigeria, and Somalia shows that too often, nonviolent associates of terror groups who may have…

Post-9/11 Generation Reaches Enlistment Age in Unmoored ‘War on Terror’

Human Rights First International Legal Counsel Rita Siemion says it's long past time to ensure that war-based authorities are used only when specifically authorized by Congress…

Sessions’ Recusal and Rosenstein’s Appointment of a Special Counsel—Both Were Legally Required

President Donald Trump made 5,001 false or misleading claims, as of Sept. 12, 2018, according to a running tally kept by the Washington Post. This included an astonishing 79 such…

Trump’s Ability to Classify Mueller Report Is Greater Threat Than Executive Privilege

The prospect of the President invoking Executive Privilege to keep the Special Counsel's report secret has received plenty of attention. Less well-known is this: there are no restrictions…

Executive Privilege and the Public Interest: Why the President Can’t Block Release of the Mueller Report

For more than a year, President Donald Trump’s lawyers have bragged about his “unprecedented” level of cooperation with Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation,…

Civilian Control of the Military During an Age of Trump and “Administrative Coups”

Since President Donald Trump’s election, concerns about the health of civilian control of the military and civil-military relations have garnered considerable media attention.…

Trump Declassifying Page, Ohr Records Will Have Broader Effects

President Donald Trump plans to declassify documents as early as this week about the FBI’s surveillance of campaign advisor Carter Page pursuant to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance…
A red herring fish.

Rudy’s Red Herring: Mueller’s Final Report and Executive Privilege

"It’s time to focus on where the real threat to Mueller’s report reaching the public may arise. The assertion of executive privilege is not it."
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