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 Erosion of an Already Weak Democracy: The Rise and Fall of Jovenel Moïse
Jovenel Moïse's presidency marked a dangerous shift from Haiti's already shaky democracy to overt authoritarianism. Delayed elections, unchecked abuse of executive power, and violent suppression of...
Undermining the Feedback Loop: How Trump’s Educational Policies Hinder Democratic Accountability
In a larger trend of censoring opinions which the Trump administration views as undesirable, the Trump administration’s actions towards schools and universities has a negative impact on democracy as...
Democracy Six Feet Under: How Disinformation is Burying Philippine Democracy Alive
Philippine democracy is in great danger once again now that the two families who benefited the most from disinformation – the Marcoses and Dutertes, are in power and have turned against one another....
MAGA Meritocracy and Populist Ironies: Eroding Democracy from Within?
The MAGA movement’s embrace of “meritocracy,” often wielded against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, reveals a profound and damaging contradiction at the heart of its populist...
Redefining the West: How JD Vance’s Speech in Munich became a Turning Point in Transatlantic Politics
On February 14, 2025, JD Vance, the Vice President of the United States, addressed the Munich Security Conference. This conference is one of the world’s most important forums on international...
How to Control What You Cannot Have: China’s Strategic Use of Disinformation to Undermine Taiwanese Democracy
We understand democratic erosion as democratically elected leaders eroding the mechanisms of fair democracy after entering office. What happens when the threat is external? As the percentage of...
The Democratic Erosion Consortium is grateful for support from:
