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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3,431 Articles
Habeas Corpus and Legal Protections

Immigration Habeas Tracker: Government Obstruction, Judicial Trust, and Accountability

A comprehensive study of immigration habeas litigation from the second Trump administration, assessing how courts responded to protect judicial authority and individual rights.
This photo taken on July 16, 2025 shows the logo of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) in Kingston, Jamaica.

Deep Sea Mining and the Logic of Contracting Around the Commons

A non-binding U.S.-Japan agreement on deep-sea mining highlights the weaknesses and vulnerability of the International Seabed Authority.
A soccer ball enters the net, as seen from behind the net, with large filled stadium in background.

More Than an Own Goal: Understanding U.S. World Cup Choices as a Message About Hard and Soft Power

The American people, as the ultimate owners of the country's soft power, can convey a desire for international engagement even as the government chooses a different message.
​Close up of Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche testif​ying during a House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies hearing​.

Blanche Is Targeting the D.C. Bar to Remove Ethical Guardrails for the Justice Department

Legal ethics expert warns Acting AG Todd Blanche's lawsuit against the DC Bar is part of a broader campaign to free DOJ lawyers from the ethical rules governing their peers.
Members of the U.S. Colored Troops and Buffalo Soldiers — living historians and reenactors — stand in silhouette against a blue sky, rifles at their sides, as one figure carries a period American flag bearing the text "54th Regiment," before marching in the Juneteenth People's Parade in Washington, DC.

Jubilee Deferred: What Juneteenth Demands of America at 250

Juneteenth commemorates emancipation. Jubilee demands something more: a society in which access, opportunity and economic and political power are secure rather than contingent.
An election observer coordinator for the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder stands on a walkway overlooking the Los Angeles County Ballot Processing Center in City of Industry, California, as workers process ballots during the June 2026 California state primary election.

The Last Check: Magistrate Judges and Federal Seizures of Election Records

A magistrate judge's review of a search-warrant application may be the last meaningful safeguard against federal interference in an election.
People attend a Trans Day of Visibility rally in Washington, DC, on March 31, 2025.

The Collateral Damage of Anti-Trans Policymaking

From healthcare bans to funding cuts, the consequences of hate-driven policymaking opposing transgender rights ripple broadly across communities.
Youths gather in front of a burning barricade on Duncairn Gardens on June 9, 2026 in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland’s Racist Violence Has a Familiar Playbook

In Northern Ireland, a horrific crime is being manipulated to justify racist violence and the targeting of migrants.
A bronze sign marks the visitors' entrance to the U.S. Trade Representative's office on August 18, 2024, in Washington, DC.

The Cynicism Behind the Administration’s Proposed Forced Labor Tariffs

The labor issues the U.S. Trade Representative claims to investigate are real problems. They should not become pretexts for tariffs the administration already wants.
James Boasberg, chief judge of the US District Court for the District of Columbia, attends a panel discussion at the annual American Board Association (ABA) Spring Antitrust Meeting.

The Continuing Saga of Chief Judge Boasberg’s Contempt of Court Inquiry Involving Todd Blanche and Emil Bove

Options for the DC Circuit en banc in these contempt of court proceedings.

Making Syria’s Transitional Justice Process Meaningful for Survivors and Communities

One of the central questions facing Syria is whether its emerging justice system can earn the trust of those in whose name it is being built.
U.S. soldiers in camouflage uniforms stand with their backs to the camera during a briefing or formation.

Thoughts for Judge Advocates in Challenging Times

Former JAGs provide principles to guide U.S. military lawyers as the U.S. armed forces faces unprecedented legal and ethical pressures.
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