Introduction to the World Justice Project September 14, 2015

“(I was called) to bring about the rule of

righteousness in the land . . . so that the

strong should not harm the weak.”

Prologue, Hammurabi’s Code

(1772 BCE)

“It is more proper that law should govern

than any one of the citizens.”

Aristotle, Politics

(350 BCE)

“If someone disobeys the law, even if he is

(otherwise) worthy, he must be punished. If

someone meets the standard, even if he is

(otherwise) unworthy, he must be found innocent.

Thus the Way of the public good will be opened up,

and that of private interest will be blocked.”

The Huainanzi

139 BCE (Han Dynasty, China)

"We are all servants of the laws in order

that we may be free."

Cicero

(106 BCE - 43 BCE)

“Where-ever law ends, tyranny begins.”

John Locke,

Two Treatises of Government

(1689)

“We must learn the difficult lesson that an

endurable future of humanity will be

possible only if . . . decisions are based on

law and justice and not on self-righteous

power.”

Albert Einstein

(1939)

“We have to create a world where the rule

of law, social justice, accountability and a

culture of prevention will be the

foundations of sustainable development

and durable peace.”

Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General

(2012)

The World Justice Project

1. Increased understanding of the rule of law and its foundational importance.

2. Government reform, direct or indirect.

3. Practical, on-the-ground programs that enhance and extend the rule of law at the community level.

Mission: promote home-grown rule of law culture, through:

What is the Rule of Law?

The Rule of Law: Four Universal Principals

1. The government and its officials and agents as well as individuals and private entities are accountable under the law.

2. The laws are clear, publicized, stable, and just; are applied evenly; and protect fundamental rights, including the security of persons and property.

3. The process by which the laws are enacted, administered, and enforced is accessible, fair, and efficient.

4. Justice is delivered timely by competent, ethical, and independent representatives and neutrals who are of sufficient number, have adequate resources, and reflect the makeup of the communities they serve.

Premise #1

The rule of law is the foundation for communities of peace, opportunity, and equity:

– Economic, socio-political, and human development

– Accountable government & respect for fundamental rights

Economic Performance

Source: The World Justice Project and WDI

Public Health

Source: The World Justice Project and United Nations

Education

Source: The World Justice Project and UNESCO

Premise #2

Multidisciplinary collaboration is the most effective way to advance the rule of law:

– Traditionally, the rule of law has been viewed as the domain of lawyers and judges.

– But everyday issues of safety, rights, justice, and governance affect us all.

– Everyone is a stakeholder.

WJP’s Three Lines of Business

Research and Scholarship

Supports research about the meaning and measurement of the rule of law, and how it matters for economic, socio-political, and human development.

• First round: two books

• Global Perspectives on the Rule of Law

• Marginalized Communities and Access to Justice

• Second round: the Rule of Law Research Consortium

Rule of Law Research Consortium (RLRC)

• A community of leading scholars from a variety of fields—including law, economics, political science, sociology, international relations, and anthropology —harnessing diverse methods and approaches to produce research on the rule of law and its effects on society.

• Co-chaired by Tom Ginsburg (University of Chicago), Robert L. Nelson (Northwestern University, American Bar Foundation), and Alejandro Ponce (World Justice Project).

RLRC: Selected Members (60+ Total Membership)

Name Discipline Institution

Tim Besley Economics / Political Science London School of Economics

Rosa Brooks Law Georgetown University

Thomas Carothers Law Carnegie Endowment

Mariano-Florentino Cuellar Law Stanford University

Larry Diamond Political Science Stanford University

Tom Ginsburg, Co-Chair Law/Political Science University of Chicago

Hamid Khan Law George Washington University

Rachel Kleinfeld International Relations Carnegie Endowment

Jack Knight Law/Political Science Duke University

Margaret Levi Political Science University of Washington

Robert Nelson, Co-Chair Sociology/Law Northwestern University

Randy Peerenboom Law La Trobe University

Andrei Shleifer Economics Harvard University

Thierry Verdier Economics Paris School of Economics

Barry Weingast Political Science Stanford University

Bruce Western Sociology Harvard University

Engagement

• Connecting and developing a global network

• Organizing strategic convenings

• Fostering practical, on-the-ground programs

Events

• World Justice Forum

• Regional Conferences

• Single-Country Sorties

Citizens and leaders come together to learn about the rule of law, build their networks, and design pragmatic solutions to local rule of law challenges.

Sample Program Incubation in Asia

• Vanuatu Chiefs Legal Education Program (Vanuatu)

• SASANE Paralegal Training Program for Trafficking Survivors (Nepal)

• Improving the Rights of India’s Slum Dwellers to Sanitation & Public Services (India)

• Strengthening the Rights of Women Cotton Pickers in Pakistan (Pakistan)

• Helping Pollution Victims in China via Community Lawyers (China)

Program Incubation

Seed grants to support practical, on-the-ground programs addressing discrimination, corruption, violence, and more.

Rule of Law Index

The WJP Rule of Law Index® measures how the rule of law is experienced in everyday life around the globe.

Rule of Law Index® 2015

Download: http://worldjusticeproject.org/rule-of-law-index

102 Countries

200,000 Households Surveyed

500 Questions

5,000 Experts Interviewed

Rule of Law Factors

Constraints on Government Powers

Absence of Corruption

Open Government

Fundamental Rights

Order and Security

Regulatory Enforcement

Civil Justice Criminal Justice Informal Justice

Rule of Law Sub-factors

Rule of Law Sub-factors can be found on page 14 of the digital PDF

Measurement Approach

1 Perspective of the ordinary person

2 Two sources of data: • A general population poll (GPP):

Household surveys, probability sample - 1,000 respondents per country (three largest cities).

• Qualified respondent’s questionnaires (QRQ): Completed by in-country experts in civil and commercial law; criminal justice; labor law; and public health.

3 Outcomes, not inputs; rule of law in practice - not on the books

4 Comparable questions (cross-country)

5 Triangulation: Perception and experience; experts and people.

Bar Graph View

Compare Data

Regional Scores & Rankings

Regional Experiences with Petty Bribery

Perception of Police Discrimination

Crime Victimization by Region

Requesting Government Information

The Global Experience with Civil Justice

Excerpt of full graph from the WJP Rule of Law Index 2015

Freedom of Opinion and Expression

“The rule of law matters to all of us, to the entire

human family. ... strengthening the rule of law is an

essential ingredient to enhance justice, peace, and

economic and social progress.”

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, WJP Honorary Chair

WorldJusticeProject.org