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.

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3,432 Articles
The U.S. Supreme Court building lit by sunlight against a blue sky.

Should Trump Get Jail Time? A Survey of Sentences for Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree

As Judge Merchan considers sentencing, a look at other cases of falsifying business records that did or didn't end in incarceration.
A line of people wait outside a border fence, joined by a white Mexican police car.

Trump’s Immigration Agenda: A Closer Look

Existing law, the fate of Trump’s immigration policies from 2017-2020, and the campaign’s public statements to date all offer fertile ground for understanding the potential…
An artistic, bright blue, glowing depiction of a brain surrounded by circuits and ones and zeros.

Government Use of AI is Expanding: We Should Hope for the Best but Safeguard Against the Worst

Robust governance over the use of AI in the public sector requires centralized, specialized oversight of decision-making.
The FBI seal appears on a wall in Washington, D.C. as a man wearing a light blue shirt walks past.

Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Search Challenge Flounders: Judge Signals Warrant Passed Muster

Trump’s effort to suppress the evidence that agents found inside his personal residence and social club appeared to fall flat on Tuesday.
A large crowd stands in the middle of what appears to be an elevated highway as a protest, with the skyline of a city in the ground.

A Modern Rush for ‘Green Deal’ Minerals Challenges Troubled Governance in the Western Balkans

Increased mining investment in the Western Balkans can either support crucial political and economic reforms, or further reward illiberal regimes.
A stone archway is shown with red flowers in front and palm trees behind it with a cloudy sky in the background.

Judge Sharply Questions Need for Backdoor Gag Order Against Trump in Classified Docs Case

Judge Aileen Cannon sharply questioned prosecutors about an indirect approach to restrict Donald Trump's comments on federal officials.
The Alto Lee Adams Sr. United States Courthouse is shown. It is while building with palm trees in front and a blue sky in the background.

Trump’s Special Counsel Hearings: Judge Appears Concerned Over Jack Smith’s Funding

Key takeaways from Donald Trump's challenges to Special Counsel Jack Smith's authority in the classified documents case.
A man standing side by side with a woman wrapped in the Ukrainian national flag walk away from camera on a street in Lviv, Ukraine.

Looking Ahead from Lviv: Sustainable Development in a Post-Conflict Ukraine

Consistent with principles of sustainable development, it is time to begin developing plans for the post-conflict reconstruction of Ukraine.
Various semi-transparent images of TV news anchors are overlayed on top of each other, with the word "False" in a red box featured prominently on the righthand side.

What Happens When We Get What We Pay for: Generative AI and the Sale of Digital Authenticity

As social media platforms become inundated with AI-generated disinformation, digital authenticity and amplification should not be for sale. 
The blue flag of the International Criminal Court flies outside of the organization's headquarters.

Two Tracks, One Destination? The Importance of Getting the Balance Right on Complementarity

Getting the balance right between partnership and vigilance is far from easy, but it is crucial if the OTP is to fulfill the promise of a Rome Statute system that is able to deliver…

Hard Work Ahead for Haiti’s New Government as it Seeks to Restore Security with International Support

A successful counter-gang strategy must rebuild community trust, protect human rights, and lay the groundwork for long-term peace and stability.
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