Amid the many lofty and abstract speeches of the recent second Summit for Democracy came one very positive development: The announcement by USAID of a new approach to advancing the rule of law, which if implemented effectively could demonstrate that “Democracy can deliver.”
Characterized by the U.S. Agency for International Development as a “paradigm shift,” its new rule of law policy turns traditional assistance to justice institutions on its head, embracing a people-centered approach that prioritizes meeting people’s needs over those of justice ministries, courts, and bar associations. This new approach represents an innovation that can help counter years of steady decline in the rule of law globally.
The rule of law means everyone is accountable under the law, regardless of position or power, and it promises equal, impartial justice for all. Most international efforts to promote the rule of law emphasize just the first half of this equation, and U.S. development assistance is no exception.
About the author
Elizabeth Andersen
Elizabeth Andersen is the executive director of the World Justice Project, which works to promote the rule of law globally and annually publishes the WJP Rule of Law Index, measuring the rule of law in 140 countries.
