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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3,156 Articles
Journalists wearing flak jackets and carrying cameras and other equipment take shelter in a building underpass during a drone attack in the capital Kyiv on October 17, 2022, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Government officials said Kyiv had been struck four times in an early morning Russian attack with Iranian drones that damaged a residential building and targeted the central train station. (Photo by SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP via Getty Images)

Summit for Democracy: Trends in News Media’s Future, Forged in Ukraine

They face every obstacle. With support, they could help redefine how journalism reckons with era-defining challenges to the public sphere.
President Biden and Saudi Crown Prince Salman stand next to each other.

A Long-Forgotten Law Could Force the U.S. to Re-Evaluate its Relationship with Saudi Arabia

Section 502B(c) is a potent tool to accelerate congressional oversight of support to countries with concerning human rights records. 
A Thai runner dressed in a costume gives a three finger "hunger games" salute as thousands gather at Suan Rot Fai Park for a "fun run" against Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his government on January 12, 2020 in Bangkok, Thailand. Police estimated that more than 12,000 people joined the protest against the Prime Minister, who seized power during a 2014 coup, led a junta in the following years and was elected Prime Minister in a much-disputed March 2019 election. (Photo by Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images)

Shut Out of Democracy Summit , Thailand Prepares for May Elections as Restrictive Laws Aim to Silence Youth Activists

The vote could set the tone for democratic rights in the region, curb the junta’s influence, and return power to the people.
People take part in a demonstration outside Georgia's Parliament in Tbilisi on March 8, 2023 called by Georgian opposition and civil society groups against government plans to introduce controversial "foreign agent" legislation, reminiscent of Russian legislation to pressure critics. The calls came after more than sixty of people were detained and dozens of police officers wounded in violent clashes that broke out in the capital Tbilisi late the day before, amid fears of democratic backsliding in Georgia. Some of the protesters carry a sign that says, "Stop Russia." (Photo by VANO SHLAMOV/AFP via Getty Images)

Backsliding: Georgia’s Crackdown on Civil Society May Be Just a Start

If the Biden administration wants to curb authoritarian trends, it should maintain its heightened attention to civil liberties in Georgia.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testifies before the House Energy and Commerce Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on March 23, 2023 in Washington, DC.

TikTok and the First Amendment

It’s unfortunately commonplace around the world for governments to invoke national security as a pretext for denying their citizens access to media. Historically, the United…
The U.S. Supreme Court building lit by sunlight against a blue sky.

It’s Time for the Supreme Court to Take Ethics Seriously

For the Court’s reputation and rule of law values, the Justices should put their own house in order, rather than have it done for them.

Policy Alert: Iran-U.S. Hostilities Ratcheting Up in Syria

Tensions between Iran and the United States are escalating again following tit-for-tat hostilities in Syria.
Clouds pass over the Capitol Dome as the Senate resumes debate on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)(Photo by Joshua Roberts/Getty Images).

Senate Foreign Relations Committee FY2024 State Department Budget Hearing: Key Takeaways

"An overarching concern of the senators was the organizational capacity of the State Department to respond nimbly to [global] challenges."
People wave flags in support of Donald Trump

7 Experts on Trump’s Call for Protests and Social Media Threat Models

Comparing expert analyses of the threat of domestic extremist violence with assessments by social media platforms.
Close up image of a woman's hand typing on a computer keyboard in the dark.

Two Supreme Court Cases Could “Break the Internet”: What Role Should Free Speech Play?

Instead of demonstrating eagerness to reconsider Section 230, the Justices appeared unsure about how exactly the law should be interpreted.
The missiles are aimed at the sky at sunset. Nuclear bomb, chemical weapons, missile defense.

How Does IHL apply to New Technologies in Outer Space?: Expert Q&A from Stockton Center’s Russia-Ukraine Conference

The real challenge in the space domain is avoiding escalation in the first instance, such as by reducing threats and developing transparency and confidence building measures.
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