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.

Trump vs. Media: The Never Ending Crusade

In advanced liberal democracies such as the United States, democratic erosion does not come in one fell swoop. Often, norms, checks and balances, and foundational features of democracy are gradually chipped away at as to lessen resistance, comparable to a frog being...

Donald Trump’s Trade Wars and Their Implications on US Vertical Accountability

Just recently Donald Trump visited Dayton, Ohio, a region which is defined by the prevalence of their manufacturing sector, and which has seen negative impacts from ever increasing US reliance on manufactured imports. As a result of the blowbacks from increased...

From Reformer to Authoritarian

How is Zambia’s Current President Showing Signs of Democratic Backsliding In Zambia, Election Day occurs on the 2nd Thursday of August every 5 years to elect the President and Vice President. To be elected president in Zambia, a candidate must receive more than 50% of...

Mexico Holds Elections. Cartels Hold the Veto: How Criminal Governance Undermines Subnational Democracy

Oct 17, 2026 | George Mason University

On April 1, 2024, Bertha Gisela Gaytán stood at a campaign rally in Celaya, a city in Guanajuato torn apart by a cartel turf war. She was running for mayor, promising to fix...

Indonesia’s 2025 TNI Law Blurs the Line Between the Military and Civilian Government

Oct 17, 2026 | George Mason University

If an active-duty military officer works inside a civilian government agency, who is really in charge of that officer? The civilian agency, or the military that the officer...

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

Jun 23, 2026 | Suffolk University

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...

Buying Injustice: The Hidden Harms of this Act.

Jun 22, 2026 | Suffolk University

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...

The New Future of Warfare? How Social Media is Inflating Tensions Between the U.S. and Iran.

Jun 22, 2026 | Suffolk University, Universities

Social media is moving to the forefront of the ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran, with political elites from both sides of the conflict using social media as a weapon to fabricate...

Modern Day Scarlet Letter: Women in Afghanistan Being Shamed for Mens’ Actions

Jun 21, 2026 | Suffolk University

Modern Day Scarlet Letter: Women in Afghanistan Being Shamed for Men's Actions A 16 year old girl named Gulnaz was raped by her cousin’s husband and subsequently thrown in jail due to her own...

South Africa’s Democracy Isn’t Collapsing, It’s Quietly Eroding

May 18, 2026 | George Mason University

Democracies rarely die overnight. They decay slowly, often in plain sight for all to see. South Africa today is a good example of how democratic erosion can occur even without dictators or dramatic...

Identity Survival Amongst Democratically Eroded Ethno-Religious Conflicts

May 12, 2026 | Suffolk University

When politics turns into a contest for identity survival, democratic institutions stop functioning as neutral arbitrators and instead become tools within group competition. Israel's recent...

Poland’s Democratic Decline Was Reversible

May 11, 2026 | James Madison University

In 2015, Poland experienced a significant decrease in democracy. The Law and Justice Party (PiS), under Jaroslaw Kaczyński’s leadership, secured victories in both the presidential and parliamentary...

Selective Support of the Courts: How Elite Driven Narratives in Brazil Undermine the Courts Perceived Legitimacy

May 11, 2026 | James Madison University

When Election Results Take Too Long: What Happened in Peru

May 11, 2026 | James Madison University

Elections are supposed to provide clarity. They tell citizens who won, who lost, and what comes next. But in Peru, the recent election did the opposite. Instead of clear results, the country faced...