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
A Call to Former Intelligence Community Employees Who Are Subject to a Prepublication Review Requirement
Millions of former public servants who once had access to classified information—and many who didn’t—are subject to a requirement of prepublication review. They are generally…
Response to Reader Questions on Manafort Pardon
Editor’s note: Last week, Alex and Ryan wrote a Op-ed in the New York Times and an accompanying piece at Just Security dissecting the strategy and implications of President…
How Trump’s Pressure on Google Threatens Government Manipulation of Search Results
Tech behemoths just can’t catch a break these days. Just as they are struggling to meet calls to contain the spread of misinformation and hate speech online, they are being bashed…
Security Clearance Records, FOIA, and Privacy: What Went Wrong for Abigail Spanberger
How did an unredacted copy of a security clearance application for a former CIA officer-turned Democratic candidate land in the hands of a GOP super PAC?
Understanding Trump vs. Bruce Ohr: Think Russia’s top crime boss, Semion Mogilevich
Amidst President Donald Trump’s ongoing threats to revoke security clearances from various critics, perhaps the most mysterious person on his enemy list is Bruce Ohr, the Justice…
Charting How Pardons and Obstruction of Justice Works
The president’s pardon power serves as an important corrective to the criminal justice system, but it can also be abused, like any government power. President Donald Trump appears…
The President’s Personal Assault on Bruce Ohr—and its dangerous effects
Who is Bruce Ohr, and what are the reasons President Trump would attack this almost three-decade civil servant?
What Happened at the Court: The Hasbajrami Oral Argument on Section 702 of FISA and the Fourth Amendment
On August 27, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit heard argument in United States v. Hasbajrami, a case that raises several challenges to the constitutionality of…
How the First Amendment Shield for Christopher Steele Can Protect Russians Too
The First Amendment ended a lawsuit against Christopher Steele over his Dossier--and could protect some Russian election meddlers too.
Why Impeachment Isn’t the Solution
Breathless talk about impeachment is unlikely to ever lead to Trump’s ouster, and that road has many dangers. The most viable path remains the voting booth.
“ISIS Widows” and “Boko Haram Wives”: Overlooked Abuses in Iraq and Nigeria
Thousands of displaced women in Iraq and Nigeria have been arbitrarily branded as affiliated with IS or Boko Haram, and subjected to abuse as a result. Almost 400 in-depth interviews…
Three Options for Prosecuting a President’s Offences—Plus a Wildcard
The President can be criminally prosecuted, but it’s far from clear when or how. Two paths are open to federal prosecutors and one for state Attorneys General.