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.
3,152 Articles

United States v. Nixon at Fifty: Why Judge Cannon Is Wrong About the Attorney General’s Authority to Select a Special Counsel
An in-depth legal analysis on the fate of Special Counsel Jack Smith's prosecution of former President Donald Trump in the classified documents case and beyond.

Azerbaijan’s Aliyev Extends Arbitrary Detentions Even as He Prepares to Host Global Climate Conference COP29
Gubad Ibadoghlu's case represents a trend of falsely imprisoning human rights defenders that casts a shadow on a premier annual gathering.

Robert Menendez Guilty: The Significance of the First ‘Foreign Agent’ Conviction of a U.S. Senator
Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) racked up 16 felony convictions on Tuesday, delivering a fatal blow to his three-decade long career in the U.S. Congress. Menendez signaled that…

Time for U.S. Intelligence to Ask: How Did We Alienate so Many Americans?
"Two years before the next round of debate over Section 702, an earlier, deeper, and more wide-ranging conversation needs to take place between the intelligence and civil liberties…

Three Flaws in the Supreme Court’s Decision on Presidential Criminal Immunity
Three major flaws in the Trump v. United States majority opinion derive from the Court’s failure to examine and differentiate the source and scope of presidential power -- whether…

How ‘Economic Security’ is Re-shaping Presidential Power
Linking of “foreign commerce” to “economic security” has dangerously blurred authority that Congress has delegated to the executive branch.

Judge Cannon Finds Special Counsel Unconstitutional in Trump Classified Documents Case: What’s Next for Jack Smith?
Judge Aileen Cannon found that Attorney General Merrick Garland had no power to appoint Jack Smith as a special counsel, dismissing the case.

After the NATO Summit, Allies Need to Step Up Their Game on Ukraine, Russia, and China
The Alliance made significant progress in some areas, but has lots of work to do going forward to meet the challenges on its doorstep.

The Just Security Podcast NATO’s Washington Summit: Russia’s War on Ukraine Tests Alliance
Joining the show to discuss this year’s NATO summit and unpack its implications is Ambassador Daniel Fried.

The Undesirable Journey of Vladimir Kara-Murza: Challenging Russia’s Repression
His case and the cause of freedom he pursues highlight the need for greater efforts by Russian civil society and the international community.

War and What We Make of the Law
Compliance with international humanitarian law must be about fulfilling its humanitarian purpose, not skirting its limits.

Beyond AI Safety Narratives: How to Craft Tech-Agnostic and Neo-Luddite Futures
It is essential to take a tech-agnostic and neo-Luddite approach to challenge the power accumulated by the architects of AI.