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 are student blog posts written by student participants in the Democratic Erosion Course. These posts were not written by nor represent the views of the Democratic Erosion Consortium.

Food Security is Rooted Abroad

Global fertilizer supply chains connect geopolitical events abroad to food production at home in ways most consumers don’t see.

The Meaning of Silence : What the moment of silence for Melissa Hortman says about American democracy

On June 14, 2025, the lives of Melissa Hortman who was a House speaker in Minnesota and her husband Mark were taken in what authorities believe to be a politically motivated act of violence. The same day Senator John Hoffman and his wife were also shot and...

Buying Injustice: The Hidden Harms of this Act.

Are we looking to create a thriving society, or are we allowing fear into the lives of immigrant families? As new immigration policies appear, the question become, how do we prevent the changes that involve separating families and dismantling the place that...

Stealth Authoritarianism in El Salvador

Feb 13, 2026 | Boston University

In our assigned reading by Ozan Varol, he describes his theory of “stealth authoritarianism” as a way that “the new generation of authoritarians cloak repressive measures...

How The White House Takeover of the Press Pool Threatens Democracy

Feb 13, 2026 | Boston University

Since its creation in 1914, the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) has managed and coordinated a rotating press pool that is allotted coverage to White House...

Democratic Erosion in South Africa

Oct 12, 2022 | SUNY-Binghamton

https://mg.co.za/opinion/2022-09-16-the-state-of-democracy-in-south-africa-is-cause-for-concern/ Since the beginning of the 21st century to mid-2000s, South Africa has been struggling with a...

Stealth Authoritarianism and Feminist Outcry in Iran

Oct 12, 2022 | SUNY-Binghamton

In mid-September of this year Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman was taken into police custody and died shortly after. The police stated that Mahsa Amini had a heart attack and that was the cause of...

U.S. Prisons’ Overcrowding Pandemic Failures

Oct 12, 2022 | SUNY-Binghamton

The issue of prison system failures that stem from pandemic regulations (or lack thereof) is a pervasive one across the globe. While pre-pandemic systems were already fraught with rampant human...

When Will Sudan’s Promissory Coup End? Interview with Ruling General Provides Little Clarity for the Country’s Future

Oct 12, 2022 | Ohio State University

In the past three years, Sudan has experienced two promissory coups, plunging the country into ongoing political turmoil. Although outwardly intended to foster democratization, these coups often...

Hostage Situation Shines Spotlight Back on Backsliding Democracy in the Philippines

Oct 12, 2022 | Ohio State University

WHAT JUST HAPPENED? On October 9th, an ex-senator was used in a hostage situation while prisoners were attempting a jailbreak in the Republic of the Philippines. The senator’s name is Leila de...

Felony Disenfranchisement Laws as Stealth Authoritarianism

Oct 1, 2022 | Ohio State University

Electoral laws are a common and necessary component of democratic regimes. However, these laws can undermine the democratic voting process through legal means. Restricting the voting rights of...

Corporate Authoritarianism in Ohio: How a Bribery Scheme Led to Widespread Subversion of Democracy

Sep 30, 2022 | Ohio State University

Within American democracy, politicians incorporate aspects of stealth authoritarianism into every level of politics. Often, the most brazen political stunts are performed when eyes are pointed...

U.S. Democracy Threatened at its Birthplace: Doug Mastriano’s Rise in Pennsylvania

Sep 30, 2022 | Ohio State University

Pennsylvania Statehouse - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania One of the most troubling developments of the 2022 election cycle has been the nomination of Doug Mastriano to be the Republican Party’s candidate...

Mar-a-Lago Raid: How Trump’s Attacks on the Judiciary Spell Disaster

Sep 30, 2022 | Ohio State University

On August 8th, for the first time, law enforcement agents raided the home of a former president on suspicion of criminal activity. The ensuing legal conflict between former president Donald Trump...