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.
3,156 Articles

What the White House Needs to Disclose about its Process for Revealing Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities
At a series of events earlier in October, White House Cybersecurity Coordinator Rob Joyce announced that he is preparing to release more information about the Vulnerabilities Equities…

Members of Congress Ask Facebook to Notify Users Exposed to Russian Propaganda–Ball Is Now in Zuckerberg’s Court
“I’m sure as you began your business and they grew, it was the idea of bringing people together and not tearing people apart, as I’m sure the Wright Brothers never intended…

For Quick and Strong Justice, Look to the Courts—Not Guantanamo
On Wednesday, Senators Lindsey Graham and John McCain reignited a seemingly settled debate by urging that Sayfullo Saipov, the suspect in Tuesday’s horrific terrorist attack…

Norms Watch: Democracy, the Trump Administration, and Reactions to It (October 2017)
Sign up here to receive Norms Watch in your inbox once a month. INTRODUCTORY NOTE This edition of Norms Watch will examine the ten greatest violations of democratic norms in the…

Episode 44 of the National Security Law Podcast: Interrogation, Prosecution, and Detention Issues in the Wake of the NYC Attack
We are back, one day after dropping episode 43, with an emergency podcast discussion the legal consequences of the horrific attack that occurred in New York City yesterday. The…

Episode 43 of the National Security Law Podcast: Unseal this Podcast!
It’s been a busy week in national security law! In Episode 43, Professor Bobby Chesney and I take on: Mueller-Time: Indictments against Manafort and Gates, and an even-more important…

Major Takeaways from the Papadopoulos Bombshell
For months, it was well known that Paul Manafort, President Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman (who has longstanding ties to the Trump world), was in serious legal trouble.…

What Manafort’s Indictment May Tell Us About Russian Election Meddling
Make no mistake. Paul Manafort’s arrest is very likely directly tied to Russian intelligence operations. Even a quick look at his indictment shows this. In Ukraine, Manafort…

A Timeline of Paul Manafort’s Relationship with the Trump World
Now that Special Counsel Robert Mueller has indicted Paul Manafort, the former chairman of President Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, the White House has already begun to…

Two Former Federal Prosecutors Analyze Manafort Indictment: Just Security’s Mariotti and Whiting
On Monday, special counsel Robert Mueller indicted former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his associate Rick Gates, Jr. (word-searchable full text). The indictment involves…

Trump Should Release His New Lethal Force Policy
In an important new development, President Donald Trump has reportedly signed new rules for when lethal force can be used against suspected terrorists outside of active war zones.…

The Guantánamo Ethics Mess
The latest episode in the Military Commission’s efforts to try Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri for the U.S.S. Cole bombing is a dramatic dispute between Air Force Col. Vance Spath,…