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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3,364 Articles
Kosovan Albanians walk past a monument that usually spells "Newborn" and has been rearranged to spell "No New BR" for "No New Broken Republic" in Pristina on Feb. 27, 2023. The monument represents a different message each year for Independence Day and this year is painted in the blue and yellow of Kosovo's flag. The European Union and the United States are turning up pressure on Kosovo and Serbia to reach a deal intended to lead to normalized ties between the foes, but critics say the agreement would divide the country ethnically between its ethnic Albanian majority and Serbs. (Photo by ARMEND NIMANI/AFP via Getty Images)

The Fallacy of US and EU Policy in the Western Balkans

Unlike their approach to Ukraine, the partners have largely coddled Russian satellites whose actions increasingly destabilize the region.
The title of the podcast episode "What the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers Don't Want You to Know" and audio waveforms.

The Just Security Podcast: What the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers Don’t Want You to Know

In courtrooms, on Twitter, and in media reports the groups are trying to clean up their image, and people are buying it. 
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland sits at a desk and testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee

Attorney General Merrick Garland and Intelligence Community Leaders Testify on the Reauthorization of Section 702 of FISA

Editor’s Note: This article, originally published on March 2, has been updated to reflect the testimony of top intelligence leaders before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence…
In this photo illustration, The logos of applications, WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram and facebook belonging to the company Meta are displayed on the screen of an iPhone in front of a Meta logo.

Is Meta Up for the Challenge Now That It’s Reinstated Trump?

Meta has struggled to articulate clear, accessible policies on content moderation that are sufficiently flexible to respond to evolving threats.
CAMP SHORAB, AFGHANISTAN - SEPTEMBER 11: A U.S. Army helicopter flies outside of Camp Shorab on a flight to Camp Post on September 11, 2017 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. About 300 marines are currently deployed in Helmand Province in a train, advise, and assist role supporting local Afghan security forces. Currently the United States has about 11,000 troops in the deployed in Afghanistan, with a reported 4,000 more expected to arrive in the coming weeks. Last month, President Donald Trump announced his plan for Afghanistan which called for an increase in troop numbers and a new conditions-based approach to the war, getting rid of a timetable for the withdrawal of American forces in the country. (Photo by Andrew Renneisen/Getty Images)

Opaque Transparency on the Use of Force: Observations on the 2022 “1264” Report

The 2022 report illustrates the limits of congressionally mandated reporting requirements on matters of war and peace and the need for Congress to be more proactive in informing…
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas wears a dark suit and red tie while sitting in the East Room of the White House.

Republicans Are Calling to Impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Here’s Why Their Case is Bunk

The arguments to impeach Sec. Mayorkas boil down to disapproval of the Biden administration’s relaxation of Trump-era immigration policies.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Chinese President Xi Jinping arrive to pose for a photo in front of their respective flags during their meeting in Beijing, on February 4, 2022, when they said in a joint statement that their "Friendship between the two States has no limits." (Photo by ALEXEI DRUZHININ/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images)

US Must Sharpen Attention to Potential Global Crisis Posed by Russia and China

Given Putin's war on Ukraine and Xi's threats to Taiwan and the two leaders' "no limits" partnership, deterrence and democracy are at risk.
The National Security Agency (NSA) headquarters at Fort Meade, Maryland, as seen from the air, January 29, 2010.

The Year of Section 702’s Reauthorization: A Reply on “Back Door” Searches

There are targeted, sensible reforms regarding use of Section 702-acquired information by the FBI for non-national security investigations that would avoid throwing the baby out…
a guard tower is visible behind a razor-wire fence at the detention camp on July 23, 2008 at Guantanamo Bay U.S. Naval Base, in Cuba.

Rehabilitation for Torture at Guantanamo is a Moral and Legal Imperative

To be an effective leader, the United States must honor its commitments under the Convention Against Torture.
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As Afghanistan Hearings Begin, Congress Must Rise Above Partisanship to Find Meaningful Solutions

Today, the House Foreign Affairs Committee begins hearings on the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Protesters hold signs that read "Trans Rights are Human Rights" while a wall of police stand between them and Proud Boys members with handkerchiefs over their faces.

The Proud Boys and Oath Keepers Are Domestic Terrorists, It’s Past Time to Call Them What They Are

The Proud Boys and Oath Keepers who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6th are not drinking buddies or patriots. They are violent extremists.
A teenage child looks at a screen of age-restricted content on a laptop.

Mind the Gap: The UK is About to Set Problematic Precedents on Content Regulation

Potentially positive elements of the UK's Online Safety Bill "are overshadowed and at risk of being negated by some of the more politically-motivated, hyperbolic aspects. The House…
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