World justice – the rule of law around the world

Abstract: Critical issues associated with legal structures and processes determine the extent to which countries have the capacity to deal with topics that affect the expectations of governments and societies. So it is that rule of law can be seen as an impediment to the dissemination of information, as can be facilitated by social media applications. In this regard, of particular interest is the Rule of Law Index that was developed and administered by the World Justice Project. This index offers the means by which strong comparison can be made between countries in terms of similarities and differences as to the rule of law. Specific examples in comparative analysis undertaken show the basis for varying treatment of liberties, as seen in containment of Internet usage, specifically due to the effectiveness of social media in rallying people to support particular causes. The more that such causes are in contrast to government interests, the more likely is it that the rule of law will be applied to thwart possible or actual opposition. Some countries, clearly, have more legal capacity to do so than do others. Accordingly, the Rule of Law Index helps to explain why that is so. It is an emerging question, then, as to whether social media provides a chance for development, or a serious challenge to some countries.