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.
3,364 Articles

The Just Security Podcast: An Indictment of Donald Trump
The alleged indictment raises important questions about efforts to interfere with the 2016 presidential election and the rule of law.

The Just Security Podcast: The Mayor of Les Irois
Determined victims and creative lawyers used a U.S, law, the Torture Victims Protection Act, to hold a powerful mayor accountable.

Survey of Past Criminal Prosecutions for Covert Payments to Benefit a Political Campaign
Surreptitious third-party payments are routinely prosecuted as campaign finance violations in New York and nationally under various statutes.

Congress Should Limit, Not Expand, Irregular Warfare Authority
Section 1202 of the NDAA is an overbroad authority that risks widening the aperture for U.S. forces to engage in and direct combat in unauthorized, foreign wars.

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.

An Assessment of the United States’ New Position on An Aggression Tribunal for Ukraine
Praise but also a critique of the new U.S. position.

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.

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.

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 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…

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.