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
Questioning Michael Cohen: An Advanced Course in Congressional Investigations
Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump’s former lawyer, has announced his willingness to testify before the House Oversight and Reform Committee and the House and Senate intelligence…
Will Executive Privilege Block Congress’ Access to Trump-Putin Helsinki Meeting Notes?
Executive privilege looms large as Congress seeks translator's notes about the off-books Trump-Putin meeting in Helsinki. But that is only the beginning of the separation of powers…
ICC Judge Schmitt Counsels Resilience to Preserve International Justice
Editor’s note: At a difficult time for the International Criminal Court (ICC)—criticism over recent rulings, resistance from current and prospective members, and threats from…
Who is Richard Burr, Really? Why the public can’t trust his voice in the Russia probe
On the same day that Senator Richard Burr (R-N.C.) officially joined the Trump campaign as a senior national security advisor, the U.S. intelligence community released a statement…
Election Security: Questions for the House Homeland Security Hearing
The U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security is conducting a hearing on election security tomorrow. It’s part of a series the new Democratic majority in the House is holding…
The Whitaker Hearing: Potential Executive Privilege and Subpoena Fireworks
It appears acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker allowed an important deadline to pass on the eve of his testimony before the House Judiciary Committee. Rep. Jerrold Nadler…
The Last Thing the Shaky Western Balkans Needs Is More Border Changes
It’s hard to know which direction the Western Balkans region is headed these days. There are some encouraging signs, even amid very worrying trends. Signs of promise include…
Will the Public Find Out if Trump Directed Campaign Contact with Stone on Wikileaks?
On January 24th, a federal grand jury in Washington, D.C. convened by Special Counsel Robert Mueller returned an indictment of Roger Stone for false statements, obstruction of…
India’s Digital Path: Leaning Democratic or Authoritarian?
As the two largest democracies in the world, India and the United States should be working together to combat this abuse of technology. But India has taken some troubling steps…
Norms Watch: Damage to Democracy and Rule of Law in January 2019
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…
Can American Political Candidates Help Stop the Flood of Disinformation with a Pledge?
U.S. intelligence officials are already issuing warnings about foreign interference in American democracy ahead of what promises to be a bruising 2020 election cycle. Delivering…
To Presidential Candidates Drafting Platforms: Restore U.S. Human Rights Leadership
As the number of candidates running for president in 2020 rapidly expands, an important component of any foreign policy platform, along with protecting national security and advancing…