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
The Senate Strikes Back: Checking Trump’s Foreign Policy
Though the Senate vote on cessation of military assistance for the Saudi War in Yemen will have no practical effect – the House of Representatives will not take up the matter…
All Evidence Points to Campaign Finance Crimes By President Trump
"The fact that we have in these documents ... all strongly suggest that Trump knew what the law forbade and violated it notwithstanding this knowledge. In other words, the DOJ…
How Far Can a Rogue Kremlin Push International Law?
The Russian-Ukrainian standoff at the Kerch Strait and the Sea of Azov shows that the Kremlin now is just ignoring international law. The United States and the West need to adjust…
Did Trump Organization Executives Cook the Books?–Tax Crimes Explained under Federal and State Law
Cohen sentencing points to likely falsification of corporate accounting and tax fraud. So which Trump Executives are liable?
Why It Doesn’t Matter Whether It’d Be Constitutional to Indict Trump
Lederman writes that so much of the public discussion is a distraction from Mueller's greatest value: determining if President Trump is compromised by Moscow, thus preventing the…
The UK Government’s Weak Response to Torture Reports
The UK government has published its response to two reports published this summer by the UK Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) on “Detainee Mistreatment…
10 Ways the U.S. Can Curb Interpol Abuses
Interpol serves a good purpose, and it has good rules. But not all members are as good as its rules. The U.S. can take steps, on its own or with others, to limit abuses and shield…
Reframing Prevention: If Government Won’t Lead, Civil Society Must Step Up to Curb Extremism
The acute urgency for solutions to prevent political violence cannot be overstated. As the bias-motivated murders in Pittsburgh and Kentucky show, hate is becoming mainstream,…
Mueller’s Roadmap: Major Takeaways from Cohen and Manafort Filings
Reading between the lines in Special Counsel and SDNY filings--some things much worse for Trump and his associates and some better than you may have thought.
Norms Watch: Damage to Democracy and Rule of Law in November 2018
This is our collection of the most significant breaks with democratic traditions that occurred in November 2018.
U.S. Lethal Operations in Somalia Are On the Rise. But Are They Effective?
A deep-rooted ideology cannot be defeated with bombs dropped from the sky. What is needed is a real shift in strategy.
Explainer: The Comey Subpoena Fight–A Face-Saving Surrender and Testimony Deal
Former FBI Director James Comey appears to have capitulated in his legal effort to fight a congressional subpoena to give a closed deposition, but he also walked away with some…