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...

How President Trump is initiating Democratic backsliding to assert his dominance

Feb 12, 2026 | Boston University

Recently, the United States, under the guidance and control of President Trump’s administration, is at risk of a threat to democracy as he exercises abusive executive...

The Trump Administration’s Aggressive Rejection of Dissent Threatens Democracy

Feb 12, 2026 | Boston University

As the Trump administration enters its second year, Trump continues to push his strategy of executive aggrandizement, reducing institutions independence and eliminating...

Will Estonia Continue to be a Beacon of Democracy?

Jun 9, 2022 | University of California, San Diego

The Coronavirus posed a challenge to government’s world wide and response in Estonia was considered to be quick, effective and generally approved by the public. Like many other democracies the...

From Tragedy to Disinformation, from Disinformation to Misinformation, From Misinformation to Threats: How Transphobia Threatened Three Separate Women’s Safety in the Wake of the Uvalde Shooting

Jun 9, 2022 | University of California, San Diego

What does the current fixation of Republicans on Trans rights have to do with a School Shooting? In the case of the recent mass shooting in Uvalde, nothing on the surface. None of the victims were...

Correlation between Growing Evangelical Communities and Rising Populism

Jun 9, 2022 | University of California, San Diego

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro (Apu Gomes / AFP / Getty) In the last few years, we have seen the rise of authoritarian...

Brazilians Will Have To Choose The Lesser of Two Evils

Jun 9, 2022 | University of California, San Diego

Jonne Roriz/Bloomberg via Getty Images This year is an election year for the fourth biggest democracy in the world, the people...

Myanmar in Shambles with the Revival of the Death Penalty

Jun 9, 2022 | University of California, San Diego

The Myanmar military government recently rejected appeals against the death sentencing of two prominent democracy activists in an effort to repress the anti-coup resistance. Former lawmaker Ko Phyo...

Economic Inequality and Democratic Political Engagement

Jun 9, 2022 | University of California, San Diego

As one of the world's leading economies, the European economic model receives a lot of attention from experts, businesses, and investors. Compared to the U.S. economic model, which focuses on...

Is a New Depolarization Process Possible in Brazil?

Jun 9, 2022 | Koç University

Brazil faces the most important elections in its history. Jair Bolsonaro is seeking re-election, while Lula da Silva is seeking to return to the presidency. A duel between the extreme right and the...

When It Comes to Gun Reform, The Republicans Are Playing Dirty

Jun 9, 2022 | University of California, San Diego

The effective Republican prohibition of any meaningful debate on gun reform represents many of the hallmarks of anti-democratic practices: the filibuster, money in politics, and polarization ......