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.
3,469 Articles
“Fight Back: How States Can Counter Authoritarianism” Series
A series exploring the powers and authorities state and local governments have to check federal overreach and protect democratic norms and individual rights.
The Simplest Way for the Supreme Court to Rule in the USPS Mail Ballots Case
Marty Lederman outlines the easiest and most straightforward way for SCOTUS to decide the USPS mail-in ballot case
What OLC’s Latest Opinion Means for Congressional Oversight of the Private Sector
Unpacking the Office of Legal Counsel opinion concluding that executive privilege may apply to presidential communications with private advisers.
Cities as Nodes of Resistance
Over 175 years later, cities’ historic role as hubs of resistance takes on renewed resonance in today’s era of rising authoritarianism in the United States.
The Int’l Criminal Court as a “Strategic Weapon”: Legal Deterrence, Cognitive Advantage, and the Future of the Rule of Law
States committed to the rule of law can use the International Criminal Court to maximize the cost of adversaries' military aggression.
The Case for a German Structural Investigation into Crimes against Humanity in Iran
Experts argue that Germany should open a structural investigation into Iran's December 2025 and January 2026 crackdown on protesters.
Why Countering the Assault on the International Criminal Court is Necessary to Protect the International Legal Order
Current and former Presidents of the ICC's Assembly of States Parties on the role of the Court in upholding the international legal order.
A Quarter Century After 9/11: Lessons Learned and Lost
A former member of the George W. Bush administration’s National Security Council reflects on what the United States got right and wrong in its response to the 9/11 attacks.
Just Security Podcast: Has the United States Violated the Law of Armed Conflict in the Iran War?
Host Ryan Goodman is joined by an expert panel to discuss whether the United States has violated the law of armed conflict in its war against Iran.
State Imperatives to Protect Civil Rights for All
States need independent agencies with jurisdiction to enforce their residents’ rights so the valuation of those rights are evenhanded and not subject to political will.
Civil Society Donors Should Heed the Risks of FATF Grey List-Induced Panic
The Financial Action Task Force's designations of countries to thwart terrorism financing more often result in governments suppressing civil society than in real reform.
America’s War on Drug Smugglers at Sea Is Unlawful—and It Is Failing
U.S. strikes against suspected drug-trafficking vessels mark an unlawful expansion of military force into what has long been—and should remain—a law enforcement mission.