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.

How far is too far for South Korea’s presidential pardons?

South Korea’s presidential pardons raise questions on accountability, especially in the aftermath of Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law.

How tolerating and encouraging violence fuels democratic backsliding in Georgia

During the past demonstrations, the ruling party of Georgia – Georgian Dream – made violence their primary weapon in overcoming protest. This blog emphasizes how violence used by the state implies democratic backsliding in light of the theoretical framework by Levistsky and Ziblatt.

Repression on Repeat: From Kyiv to Minsk to Tbilisi

Repression on Repeat: From Kyiv to Minsk to Tbilisi Last October, parliamentary elections were held in Georgia. Many considered them as important as a referendum because Georgian citizens were asked to choose between the ruling Georgian Dream, a Euroskeptic...

Executive Order 14171: A Deceptive Tool for Democratic Erosion

Feb 14, 2025 | Boston University

On January 20, 2025, Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States, marking the beginning of his second term in the Oval Office. That day, he...

Netanyahu’s Not-So-Stealthy Authoritarianism

Feb 14, 2025 | Boston University

Long considered to be the “Middle East’s only democracy,” Israel as it stands today is a shell of the idealistic Jewish utopia its Zionist founder once envisioned. The...

Disinformation and Calling 911: A Fiery City Council Meeting

Oct 11, 2024 | Ohio State University

“North Canton is a very peaceful part of Ohio. The community is small enough to get together and create amazing things. I feel very safe in North Canton and recommend new families to move into the...

The 2024 Illuminati Election

Oct 10, 2024 | Ohio State University

“I’ll talk to you the minute you stop killing children,” he proclaims as he closes the door in our faces. My roommate, a public policy major, has been interning as a campaign assistant for...

Populism and Gender: What’s the correlation?

Oct 10, 2024 | Brown University

It is no secret that populists — charismatic, strong-willed, and skilled at agitating a base — are increasingly consolidating political power. Today’s headlines are riddled with mentions of such...

Truth Social was a failed populist experiment. A second Trump victory could change that.

Oct 10, 2024 | Brown University

If former President Donald Trump is a populist, he certainly isn’t a traditional one. An analysis of the former President’s speeches by UCLA researchers found that he selectively and...

Ecuador on the Edge

Oct 10, 2024 | Brown University

Once considered among the most stable countries in Latin America, Ecuador has been rocked by a surge of gang-related violence in the last few years. The homicide rate has more than quadrupled,...

“These Guys Are Weird”: How Overtly Anti-Democratic Ideology Made It From Online Forums to the Presidential Ticket

Oct 10, 2024 | Brown University

When now Democratic Vice Presidential Candidate Tim Walz spoke these titular words in reference to JD Vance, his opposition on the Republican ticket, the feeling resonated with many observers....

A Turning Point for Immigration Reform in the 2024 Presidential Election

Oct 10, 2024 | Ohio State University

The failure to address immigration in formal debate is something that has happened for at least a decade now! The failure to EVEN have discourse about immigration is hypocritical; I would go as far...

Fighting for Redistricting Reform in 2024

Oct 10, 2024 | Ohio State University

In the heart of a pivotal election season, I had the opportunity to attend a redistricting reform meeting hosted by Common Cause Ohio. With the stakes at an all-time high—especially concerning Issue...

Loper Bright: How SCOTUS Undermined Democracy While America Looked The Other Way

Oct 10, 2024 | Brown University

For nearly a decade, much of the American public’s attention has been devoted to whether or not Donald Trump hopes to destroy American democracy. Opponents speak his name alongside a volley of...