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.
3,333 Articles
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,…
The Missing Piece of the Mueller Investigation
What about the counterintelligence aspects of the probe? Where does the counterintelligence investigation now stand? What are the range of findings it may produce? And how may…
The Hidden Issue in Huawei’s Suit Against the United States
Huawei v. U.S. is more than simply a publicity stunt or moral appeal by the Chinese company — unfair legislative targeting is a claim that courts and commentators should take…
A Back Door to Controlling Judges: Poland’s Ruling Party Tries Another Ploy
Poland’s ruling Law and Justice Party has undertaken a systematic campaign for the past three years to control the Polish judiciary, culminating in recent, failed attempts to…
What to Do with Vetoed Bills
Applying a Youngstown canon to vetoed bills respects Congress’s clearly expressed position while also complying with the Constitution, as interpreted by the Supreme Court in…
The U.S. Must Forcefully Oppose Blanket Amnesty for Civil War Atrocities in Guatemala
“All the people have disappeared.” So reads a declassified cable from the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala City, dated Dec. 28, 1982. The subject was an incident that occurred just…
Top 4 Things to Look for in Mueller’s Report in Light of Barr’s Letter
Barr's letter leaves the most important questions at the heart of Mueller's counterintelligence investigation unanswered.
How not to think–and what the Mueller Report won’t tell us–about Trump’s efforts to obstruct the investigation
Back in December, I wrote a post about Bill Barr’s June 2018 memo to DOJ officials. In it, I was sharply critical of Barr’s understanding of the President’s…
Now Mueller’s Probe is Over, Should and Will His Findings Be Made Public? Law and Past Practice
The first waiting game is over. Special Counsel Robert Mueller has completed his role as Special Counsel and delivered his findings to Attorney General William Barr.
Now, the…