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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3,154 Articles
Russian President Vladimir Putin gives a speech in Moscow on June 27, 2023, to hundreds of officers of the Russian military and secret services whom he said prevented a larger crisis when the Wagner Group was marching toward the Russian capital on June 24. Behind him, two soldiers conduct a sword ceremony. (Photo by Contributor/Getty Images)

How Does Putin’s Response to Prigozhin’s Mutiny Change the Threat from Russia?

The U.S. government is likely reassessing Russia's stability and predictability, which are clearly diminished coming out of this episode.
Modi (L) and Biden (R) sit next to another in front of American and Indian flags.

Hate Speech from Modi Supporters Belies His Claims of Indian Democracy During US Visit

Comments by his ministers and party leaders reinforce the lamentable record of the government’s abusive and discriminatory policies.
Technical background with a silhouette of a man

Weighing the Risks: Why a New Conversation is Needed on AI Safety

The rapid development of AI implies that different stakeholders must prepare to tackle existing and future risks simultaneously.
IMAGE: US President Joe Biden speaks to representatives of more than 100 countries during a virtual democracy summit at the White House in Washington DC on December 9, 2021. (Photo by Nicholas Kamm / AFP) (Photo by NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images)

2023 ‘Democracy Perception Index’ a Wake-Up Call for US, EU

"Perhaps surprisingly, the survey found that only around half of citizens in the United States and parts of western Europe viewed their country as a democracy."
A large banner reads "2022 CPAC Hungary." Viktor Orban stands at a podium and addresses a crowd, standing between an American and a Hungarian flag.

The Global Far-Right Authoritarian Alliance Threatening US Democracy – And How to Weaken It

Authoritarians across the globe are collaborating. To counter them, those interested in protecting democracy must do the same.
Conceptual technology illustration of artificial intelligence

Regulation is Not Enough: A Blueprint for Winning the AI Race

The race for AI supremacy will be determined by innovation, infrastructure, and integration with the private sector.
Chuck Schumer stands at a podium, with cameras surrounding him.

To Legislate on AI, Schumer Should Start with the Basics

Editor’s Note: This article was cross-posted with Tech Policy Press here.  Last Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) unveiled his SAFE Innovation Framework,…
Employees work at the Tunisian Sergaz company, which controls the Tunisian segment of the Trans-Mediterranean (Transmed) pipeline, through which natural gas flows from Algeria to Italy, in El-Haouaria, some 100km east of the capital Tunis, on April 14, 2022. (Photo by FETHI BELAID/AFP via Getty Images)

Global Ambitions and Tunisia’s Crisis Could Spur Algeria to Rethink Its Non-Intervention Policy

The US and Europe, working with multilateral institutions, could help the two countries capitalize on mutual economic and security interests.

Pentagon Investigation into Syria Strike: A Litmus Test for Civilian Harm Response

The Pentagon's investigation into the May 3 drone strike in Syria is a litmus test for broader efforts to address civilian harm.
Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi (centre) sits at the Security Council next to Antonio Guterres (L)

New UN Security Council Resolution on “Human Fraternity” Raises Human Rights Concerns

UN Security Council Resolution 2686 raises human rights concerns by broadly defining extremism and emphasizing "human fraternity."
The episode title with sound waves behind it.

The Just Security Podcast: The Proud Boys’ Attack on Pride

The group's ideology depends on narrow constructions of gender and family structure harming those who don’t fit into the mold of a Proud Boy.
Aerial view of flooded residential district

Prosecuting Ecocide: The Norms-Adoption/Enforcement Paradox

Might the prospects of meaningful norms enforcement of ecocide at the International Criminal Court level be disproportionate to the investments needed – and challenges associated…
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