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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3,165 Articles
Hand arranged wooden cube blocks with leaves. Climate-change related green icons. (Getty Images)

Don’t Succumb to Climate Fatalism

Climate policy is taking a hit, but succumbing to this backsliding is not the answer. Instead, there are real security, economic, and political benefits to hitting back.
An overhead view of the Pentagon building in Washington, DC.

Hegseth Promises to Save the Pentagon Billions of Dollars. Here’s What Actually Could.

If the Trump administration wants to end wasteful Pentagon spending, it should reform the many faltering weapons programs and review its contractor ecosystem.

The Just Security Podcast: Keeping Track of the Big Picture–Challenges to Press Freedom and Beyond

A discussion with Rebecca Hamilton about the use of State power and how to identify linkages between individual developments and broader trends in press freedom and beyond.
Tank and soldiers shown on Mexico border

The New “National Defense Area” at the Southern Border: What You Need to Know

NSPM-4 creates a military area that is twice the size of Washington, D.C. and expands the military’s role in stopping cross-border migration.
A line of people, some under umbrellas, with a woman at the center holding a poster with photos on it and the message, in Spanish, saying, "He has worked for a solid company since he was 18. An investigation is urgently needed for his prompt release. No more unjust detentions."

El Salvador’s Authoritarian Slide Should Hold Lessons – Not Examples – for the U.S.

In fighting rampant gang violence, President Bukele has turned El Salvador into even more of a lawless, opaque State.
Image of the Capital overlayed with digital color blocks

Beyond Data Rescue: Building Structural Safeguards for Federal Data Preservation

Disappearance of vital resources from government websites exposes a fragile ecosystem in which accountability mechanisms have broken down.
The office of the law firm Perkins Coie is seen on April 10, 2025 in Washington, DC.

No, the President Cannot Enforce the Law-Firm Deals

"First, are these agreements legally enforceable? Second, if not, what principled reasons do the firms have for keeping their part of these bargains?"
gavel hammer with smartphone on blue background.

Online Safety Regulations Around the World: The State of Play and The Way Forward

A global survey and analysis of online safety laws reveals an emerging set of discernible approaches to platform regulation.
General view of the G20 finance ministers meeting as Brazilian Finance Minister Fernando Haddad speaks in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on February 28, 2024.

Is the New Global Order a Boon for International Taxation Collaboration?

The U.S. withdrawal from international forums may open possibilities for other cooperation. The tax reform agenda is a case in point. 

How March 31 Military Flight of Venezuelan Nationals to El Salvador Most Likely Violated Court Order

It may all come down to "acting in concert or participation with."
A man comes out of the Voice of America (VOA) building on March 17, 2025

Justice Department Fails to Address Central Point in VOA Case

A federal judge halted the shutdown of VOA, citing violations of administrative law and congressional authority, not press freedom.
In this handout photo provided by the Salvadoran government, members of the Salvadoran army stand guard at the gates of the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) at CECOT on March 16, 2025 in Tecoluca, El Salvador.

Deportation to CECOT: The Constitutional Prohibition on Punishment Without Charge or Trial

Sending migrants to El Salvador’s CECOT prison raises grave constitutional concerns under the Fifth and Sixth Amendments.
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