About US
Promoting Evidence & Learning About Democratic Backsliding
The Democratic Erosion Consortium (DEC) is a nonpartisan, collaborative effort to address the global challenge of democratic erosion through research, teaching, and multi-stakeholder collaboration. Our focus areas include pedagogy, data collection, research synthesis, and public outreach, with the goal of leveraging evidence to better respond to democratic backsliding worldwide.
Teaching & Learning
Learn about our teaching and pedagogy work, including our Democratic Erosion Course that has been offered at more than 75 universities around the world.
Documenting Democratic Erosion Through Data
Explore and use our Democratic Erosion Event Dataset (DEED), access our online visualizations, or download the full dataset.
Making Evidence Accessible With Briefs
Download our Democratic Erosion Evidence Briefs (DEE-Briefs), which aim to increase the accessibility, usefulness, and responsiveness of existing evidence for policymakers, practitioners, the media, and the broader public.
Fostering Communication, Learning & Partnerships
Join our multi-stakeholder network, attend virtual events, and sign up for our listserv to stay connected with our network.
TEACHING
Teaching & Learning
The Democratic Erosion Consortium offers a semester-long standardized university course on democratic erosion, making the syllabus, readings, and collaborative assignments accessible to any faculty member around the world.
DATASET
Understanding Trends in Democratic Erosion
The Democratic Erosion Event Dataset (DEED) tracks discrete events related to democratic erosion and autocratic consolidation across countries and over time, providing valuable insights into the process of democratic erosion around the world.
Briefs
Democratic Erosion Evidence Briefs (DEE-Briefs)
DEE-Briefs increase the accessibility, usefulness, and responsiveness of existing evidence for policymakers, practitioners, and the broader public.
PARTNERSHIPS
Engage with the Democratic Erosion Consortium
We foster partnerships between academics, policymakers, and practitioners through both in-person and online events, providing opportunities to network and engage.
PARTNERSHIPS
Engage with the Democratic Erosion Consortium
We foster partnerships between academics, policymakers, and practitioners, through in-person and online events and opportunities to network and engage.
TEACHING
Teaching & Learning
The Democratic Erosion Consortium offers a semester-long standardized university course on democratic erosion, making the syllabus, readings and collaborative assignments accessible to any faculty member around the world. We will soon be launching an online Democratic Erosion Short Course aimed at policymakers and practitioners.
DATASET
Understanding Trends in Democratic Erosion
The Democratic Erosion Event Dataset (DEED) tracks discrete events related to democratic erosion and autocratic consolidation across countries and over time, providing valuable insights into the process of democratic erosion around the world.
Briefs
Democratic Erosion Evidence Briefs (DEE-Briefs)
DEE-Briefs aim to increase the accessibility, usefulness, and responsiveness of existing evidence for policymakers, practitioners, the media, and the broader public.
Student Blog
Democratic Erosion Course Student Blog
Read our students’ insightful analysis of current events and democratic backsliding.
The house is burning from the inside out: American democracy is dying
” There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide” - James Adams. If the average empire fails at 250 years and America is 248 years old, could we say that the death of democracy was...
Demagogues: Turning America into the Child Left Behind
Image Source: Getty Images/ABC News The loud, proud American trope has been a stereotype that Americans have worn proudly on their sleeves. This image, both a source of laughter and slight fear, has...
Germany’s Defense of Democracy
With the recent elections in Germany, there is a clear growth in favor of populist leaders. The election saw record-breaking voter turnout, with 82.5% of eligible voters participating. This is a...
Trump’s Evolved Form of Populism Works… and Hurts.
Trump has been called a populist since his initial campaign in 2016, with his ideas being mostly the same over the years: dismantle the Department of Education, impose tariffs on Mexico and China,...
The Judicial Branch’s Downfall
The Judicial branch has power and control over translating and applying our laws in the court system. The purpose of having three separate branches is to preserve an equal and fair democracy in the...
Israel’s Judicial Reforms: A Potential Danger to Democracy?
Israel's Judicial Reforms: A Potential Danger to Democracy? In 2023, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration put forward extensive judicial reforms aimed at significantly...
The Democratic Erosion Consortium is grateful for support from:
