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.

First 100 Days, More Like First 100 Hours: How Trump’s First 100 Days Played Out Against Trump’s Second 100 Hours

Indiana Senator Jim Banks, a staunch Trump ally, predicted that President Trump’s return to power would be characterized by “shock and awe.” In many ways, the events of President Trump’s first 100 hours in office during his second term have lived up to that promise....

History Repeats: Why Strong Global Defense is Key to Preventing Autocracy

A strong and consistent global defense by democratic nations is crucial to preventing the rise of autocratic regimes, as history shows—from the Cold War doctrines to the failed democratization of Afghanistan—that without committed follow-through and structural reform, authoritarian forces will exploit weaknesses and reclaim power.

Women in Political Dynasties: The Illusion of Choice and Democratic Erosion in the Philippines

Political dynasties have long controlled Philippine politics, with powerful families passing down leadership positions across generations. Despite the imposition of term limits discouraging dynastic rule, these families have found their way around the constitutional...

How Populism Threatens Georgia’s Alignment With the West

Oct 9, 2024 | Brown University

The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine sent shockwaves across the West. Long-time geopolitical neutrals Finland and Sweden joined NATO, and many Western countries levied...

Democracy is Eroding in El Salvador, but Who is Concerned?

Oct 9, 2024 | Brown University

The self-proclaimed “world’s coolest dictator”, Nayib Bukele, won presidential re-election in El Salvador in February of this year, extending his presidency to another...

Private Arbiters of Public Discourse: Facebook, MSI, and the Political Power of the Algorithm

Mar 16, 2022 | Brown University

In the digital age, it is plausible that a minor tweak in an algorithm could erode democracy as successfully as a charismatic demagogue. Juggernaut tech corporations have monopolized the markets of...

How India Turned Away from Democracy

Mar 16, 2022 | University of Georgia

In 1947, India became independent from British imperialist rule. It became a democracy with a parliamentary system and a liberal, far-reaching constitution. Hundreds of millions of people are...

America’s Revision to False Democracy: The Impact of the Judicial System’s Reversal from Protecting the Right to Vote

Mar 16, 2022 | University of Georgia

America is seen as a beacon of democracy around the world and the right to vote is one of the key principles of democracy. Having free and fair elections is one of the most important pillars of...

Canada in Crisis…Or Not: Trudeau, Emergency Powers, and the Freedom Convoy

Mar 15, 2022 | Brown University

Through the first two months of 2022, Canada has been in the midst of one of the most unforeseen political stories to emerge in years, a Vaccine mandate protest which has grown so confrontational in...

The United States, Mexico, and Unfolding Democratic Ideals

Mar 15, 2022 | University of Georgia

The President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, has taken several actions that raise concern over United States – Mexico relations as well as the state of democracy in Mexico....

The Destruction of Global Democracy: Why Nation-States Are Fundamentally Undemocratic

Mar 15, 2022 | Brown University

The current state of global democracy is in shambles. Liberal democratic institutions are in decline and the erosion of global democracy in recent years has only accelerated. As such, the liberal...

The Fall of the Dozhd TV: The Last Independent TV News Channel in Russia

Mar 14, 2022 | Brown University

On March 3rd, 2022, in the midst of the Russian invasion into Ukraine, the only independent TV news channel in Russia, Dozhd TV (also known as TV Rain), stopped broadcasting. Its editor-in-chief...

Neoliberalism, Populism, and Democratic Erosion in Peru

Mar 14, 2022 | University of Georgia

The traditional conceptions of neoliberalism and populism are quite contradictory, making it difficult to imagine a scenario in which they could be successfully combined by a political leader....

Your Political Beliefs May Be Programmed

Mar 14, 2022 | University of Georgia

We’ve all seen it – fake social media accounts blasting blatant disinformation and propaganda. Your uncle Bill retweets them and your cousin Sally shares their links on Facebook, but they don’t know...