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

Fighting Tunisia’s Rampant Corruption with Autocracy – Kais Saied’s Chimera

Three years since taking office as president, the pledges that legitimized his ascent have fallen far short as he moves to monopolize power.
Police cars in foreground; sloping upward street with police cars and men in uniform in background

Incendiary Speech That Spurs Violence is Rising in US, But Tools Exist to Shrink It

"It is vital to keep millions of Americans from being captured by conspiracies, disinformation, and violent rhetoric."

Our Prosecution Memo Points the Way for the Special Counsel

Some people have argued against the need for, or timing of, the appointment of a special counsel in the federal investigations of former president Donald Trump. But we welcome…

The Just Security Podcast: United States v. Trump – A Model Prosecution Memo for Mar-a-Lago

To discuss the Just Security Model Prosecution Memo we have Andrew Weissmann, Joyce Vance, and Ryan Goodman, who were among the memo’s authors
Sameh Shoukry, President of the UNFCCC COP 27 climate conference, speaks at a podium.

Tracking COP27: Notable Moments and Key Themes

As COP27 draws to a close, our tracker provides expert analysis and the latest climate coverage.

Is Colombia Trapped in “War Mode?” In Wake of Truth Commission, New Leftist Government Recalibrates US Ties

Strengthening rule of law and democracy will require re-engineering the joint policies of the US and Colombian governments.
The large gray Department of Justice building with a clear blue sky in the background. The drooped flag outside the building indicates a windless time of day. Photo credit: Coolcaesar from Wikimedia Commons

Mar-a-Lago Model Prosecution Memo

"The authors have decades of experience as federal prosecutors and defense lawyers, as well as other legal expertise. Based upon this experience and the analysis that follows,…

Encryption Helps Ukrainians Resist Russia’s Invasion, but a European Plan Threatens the Underlying Trust Any Tech User Needs

The intended crime-fighting proposals could force encrypted-messaging services to abandon basic confidentiality or pull out of the market.
Internally displaced women carry jerrycans in the makeshift camp where they are sheltered in the village of Erebti, Ethiopia, on June 09, 2022.

For Biden’s Africa Strategy to Succeed, Prioritize Human Rights

The United States has an opportunity to put human rights at the center of its foreign policy on Africa.
Military police in full riot gear are pictured near Lafayette Park ahead of President Trump's trip to St. John's Church in Washington DC on June 1, 2020, where protesters were tear gassed.

Without Congressional Action, Lafayette Square and January 6th Can Happen Again

"Two amendments in the House-passed FY23 NDAA would close ... loopholes and make it harder for another Trump administration – or any future president – to abuse the powers…
Pro-Trump protestors, with torn American flags, gather in front of the U.S. Capitol Building.

Roadmap to Accountability: How the Jan. 6 Committee Can Help Enforce the 14th Amendment

How current legal processes — across the states — provide for the enforcement of section 3 of the 14th Amendment.
Black and red painting of Mahsa Amini with roses on it.

Iranian Women’s Demands for Freedom Must Be Heard

Iranians continue to protest discriminatory rules in a bid to achieve gender equality.
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