Democratic Erosion University Course Student Blog

Students enrolled in our course are encouraged to write for the course blog, and to read and comment on posts from students at other participating universities. The blog offers students the opportunity to analyze current events through the lens of the theory and case studies they engage with through the course.

These blogs reflect the views of the student authors, and not those of the Democratic Erosion Consortium.

Looking at Trump’s and Obama’s State of the Unions Through the Lens of Mutual Toleration

How do Trump and Obama compare to one another when we analyze their state of the union speeches based on the theory of mutual toleration?

Is Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Actually Keeping Us Safe?

Voter fraud in the United States is almost nonexistent, with very little evidence suggesting that noncitizens are the ones committing it, if it does happen. Audits and research have repeatedly found only tiny numbers of such cases, often due to clerical errors rather...

Modern Gerrymandering and Its Damaging Effects on U.S. Electoral Democracy

Introduction Gerrymandering is the practice of drawing electoral maps to favor one political party over another. When redrawing maps, the party in power will use two strategies: packing and cracking. Packing is when a party tries to fit in as many of their likely...

Confusion and Control: New Voting Laws Weakening Democracy in America

Mar 30, 2026 | Uncategorized, University of Houston

A core component of democracy is representation through free and fair elections. Free and fair can be defined by who qualifies to vote and then by the actual ability of that...

Hollowing out the State: DOGE and the Administrative Erosion of American Democracy

Mar 30, 2026 | Suffolk University, Universities

On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order establishing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a body embedded within the existing U.S. Digital...

Look at What They Took From You: MAGA Polarization Through Social Media

Mar 30, 2026 | Arizona State University

The official White House X account sits at over four million followers. Created in January of 2025, the social media page’s bio reads: “The Golden Age of America Begins Now.” Like many other...

From Secularism to Islamic Authority: Democratic Backsliding in Bangladesh

Mar 30, 2026 | University of Houston

Democratic backsliding is often characterized by institutional weakness or polarizing incumbents, but what about the topic of backsliding due to religious proliferation? In countries like India,...

From Left to Right-Wing Populism: Can Argentina Survive Another Movement?

Mar 30, 2026 | University of Houston

In November 2023, self-proclaimed anarcho-capitalist Javier Milei won the Argentinian presidency. His campaign ran on the promise of dismantling the existing political establishment that many...

Timor Leste: The Paradox of Democratic Fragility

Mar 30, 2026 | Arizona State University

Although Timor-Leste is often seen as a success in democracy in Southeast Asia, it still has deep-rooted structural issues that cause worries about a decline in democratic practices. Although the...

The United States of Stealth Authoritarianism

Mar 29, 2026 | Suffolk University

Are we really doing this? “America will continue our leadership in defense of human dignity, in defense of rules and norms, and in defense of freedom and liberty. There is too much at stake to do...

The United States’ War on Public Education

Mar 29, 2026 | Suffolk University

While the country shifts their focus to the newly erupting war in the Middle East they begin to turn their backs on the war happening on US soil. This war may not involve heavy weaponry and mass...

The DHS Shutdown is Led by Populist Politicians

Mar 29, 2026 | Suffolk University, Universities

An “anti-compromise” mindset from populist politicians continues to hinder negotiation between Democrats and the White House. On February 14, 2026 a partial government shutdown centered on the...

When Courts Become Political

Mar 29, 2026 | University of Houston

In an ideal world, the judiciary is like the referees in a democracy. Their job is to make sure that all the players are playing by the rules, that our rights are protected, and that our politicians...

Do Economic Factors Really Affect the Durability of Authoritarian Regimes?

Mar 29, 2026 | Suffolk University

Oftentimes to an outside, democratically minded observer, the durability of authoritarian rule seems perplexing. After all, why would anyone not rise up against a tyrant or dictator when their...