We are excited to launch another semester of our DEC Democratic Erosion Course! During the Fall 2026 semester, faculty at 19 universities are teaching the DEC course, including 5 new universities joining the network and 7 universities abroad. Together, the course is reaching over 350 students this semester and this is our first full semester teaching our revamped curriculum.
The DEC network is also creating opportunities for faculty and students to engage beyond their individual classrooms. This fall’s planned cross-university collaborative activities include 2 WhatsApp groups connecting 5 universities, 3 joint virtual speakers across 6 universities, and 3 ICONS online simulations. These activities give students opportunities to exchange ideas and perspectives with peers at other institutions while engaging with the challenges of democratic erosion.
We would like to extend a special thanks to our returning faculty this semester. In particular, we want to highlight Dr. Alina Dragolea from The National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, Romania, who has taught the DEC course 8 times, and Dr. Berk Esen from Sabancı Üniversitesi, Turkey, who has taught the course 7 times. We are deeply grateful for their continued support and dedication to the program.
We’re excited to see the DEC faculty network continue to expand and to support meaningful connections among faculty and students across campuses.
Interested in bringing the DEC curriculum to your classroom? Learn more about the network and how to get involved here: https://democratic-erosion.org/teaching/
