Justice Denied, Rights Delayed: The Crisis of Rule of Law in Modern Societies under Institutional Fragility, Governance Failures, and Unequal Access to Justice

Abstract

This study examined the crisis of the rule of law in modern societies by analyzing the effects of institutional fragility, governance failures, and unequal access to justice. The research adopted a quantitative, cross-sectional design and collected primary data from a sample of 350 respondents, with 310 valid responses used for analysis. Data was gathered through a structured questionnaire using a five-point Likert scale and analyzed through descriptive statistics. The findings indicated high levels of agreement regarding institutional weaknesses, with judicial independence (M = 4.21), political interference (M = 4.15), and limited institutional capacity (M = 4.08) identified as major concerns. Governance failures also showed a strong impact, including administrative inefficiency (M = 4.22), corruption (M = 4.18), and lack of accountability (M = 4.14). Unequal access to justice remained a critical issue, as respondents highlighted barriers such as the unaffordability of legal services (M = 4.26), procedural complexity (M = 4.23), and challenges faced by marginalized groups (M = 4.28). The results further revealed that delays in justice significantly reduced public trust (M = 4.27) and contributed to perceptions of inequality (M = 4.22). The study concluded that strengthening institutional capacity, improving governance mechanisms, and ensuring equitable access to justice are essential for restoring the effectiveness of the rule of law and enhancing societal stability.