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
The Campaign Finance Case Against Donald Trump is a Strong One: Just Ask John Edwards’ Prosecutors
Top campaign finance law expert, Paul S. Ryan, writes, "The case against Donald Trump is much stronger than was the case against John Edwards. Indeed, the case against Trump would…
Why Michael Cohen May End Up Cooperating Despite No Cooperation Deal
"No cooperation deal does not necessarily mean no cooperation."
Why I Signed the Former CIA Officials’ Letter on Clearances: In Defense of Rule of Law
"The President of the United States has been soundly rebuked by a bipartisan consensus of the national security establishment. The spark was John Brennan, but the flame spread.…
The Trials of White House Counsel Don McGahn
Over the weekend, Michael Schmidt and Maggie Haberman published a remarkable story in the New York Times chronicling White House Counsel Donald F. McGahn’s substantial cooperation…
Brennan’s Due Process Case Against the White House
In an unprecedented move, the White House announced that President Donald Trump was revoking the security clearance of John Brennan, the CIA director in the Obama administration.…
Peter Strzok’s Firing Gives the Bureau a Chance to Reset
Former senior FBI official provides a counterweight to the emerging public narrative that this decision resulted from external political pressure on the Department.
Reading Between the Lines: Is Gates Cooperating About More Than Manafort?
A revealing moment during the trial of Paul Manafort suggests that Rick Gates’ cooperation exceeds the scope of the case currently on trial and the other case against his former…
Trump Could Learn from Gore on How to Handle an Election Interference Scandal
Replace Russia with China, the 2016 election with 1996, and Trump with Gore, and there are disturbing parallels. The stark difference is in how the White House handled the case.
Election Interference Is Just a Symptom. Evaporation of Trust is the Disease.
We need to recognize our cognitive infrastructure, on which trust is built, as a critical national asset that’s crumbling, and we need to shore it up—fast. It’s a challenge…
How Transitional Justice Can Help the U.S. Defeat Terrorism
It may seem odd that the National Security Strategy discusses accountability for mass atrocities on the same page as defeating transnational terror. What could justice have to…
Norms Watch: Damage to Democracy and Rule of Law in July 2018
Welcome to the latest installment of Norms Watch, our series tracking both the flouting of democratic norms by the Trump administration and the erosion of those norms in reactions…
A Potential Recourse for Targets of White House Security Clearance Threats
The White House has recently stated that it is considering revoking the security clearances of several former high ranking public officials. In a July 23 press conference, White…