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.

Democratic Erosion in Chile (1963-1975)

Chile between the period of 1964 and 1975 represents a great example of how democracy can be eroded through both internal failure, but mainly through the planned efforts of global superpowers. This blog argues that democratic erosion and the eventual collapse in Chile...

Two Presidents Walk into a Room: Daniel Noboa and Donald Trump’s Relationship

Exploring President Noboa and Donald Trump’s relationship through a framework of democratic erosion via militarization in Ecuador.

The 2026 Midterms as an Institutional Test

When the Army Said No: How Military Defection Toppled Bangladesh’s Autocrat

Dec 8, 2025 | University of Pittsburgh

On the night of August 4, 2024, Bangladesh’s army chief held an emergency video conference with his generals. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had ordered troops to enforce a...

The BJP’s Influence on Democratic Backsliding

Dec 7, 2025 | University of Pittsburgh

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is the largest in India and has been for the past 30 years. The BJP’s core philosophy emphasized Indian identity as a Hindu majority nation....

The Sanction Paradox and Democratic Erosion in Nicaragua

Jun 7, 2022 | Koç University

The Sanction Paradox and Democratic Erosion in Nicaragua The Central American country of Nicaragua has evolved into an even more autocratic government, with Daniel Ortega elected president for the...

The Iron Rhetoric of the Velvet Leader

Jun 7, 2022 | Koç University

The harsh rhetoric and actions of the Pashinyan government/movement is straying Armenia from the very democratic principles that they were vowing to achieve. In 2018 during the month of...

A New Constitution, Is It the Antidote? by Ozge Danaci

Jun 7, 2022 | Koç University

Even though a constitutional change might be an effective way of handling the current crisis in Chile, it is contingent on other factors whether the new constitution can be an antidote to Chileans’...

In The Philippines: Real Election Undermined by False Tales

Jun 7, 2022 | University of California, San Diego

The election of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr, son of the previously ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. on May 9th poses a great threat to democracy and illustrates the effects and loss of a...

Violence Against Muslims and Silencing of the Press in India

Jun 6, 2022 | University of California, San Diego

Narendra Modi, the current Prime Minister of India has been in power since 2014. His party- the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)- is a right-wing party known for strong Hindu nationalist beliefs....

News Burnout And Incompetence in Our American Leaders

Jun 6, 2022 | University of California, San Diego

We live in an age of social media where most young adults are chronically online. If you were to ask a handful of young adults where they get their news from, most people are likely to answer...

Trump Stacked The Supreme Court: Roe v. Wade Is Just The Beginning

Jun 5, 2022 | University of California, San Diego

Roe v. Wade is just one of the first casualties to come as a result of Trump’s brand of stealth authoritarianism and the gradual weakening of American democracy since his rise to power The recent...

Poland’s Judiciary and Diplomacy As a Solution to Democratic Backsliding

Jun 5, 2022 | University of California, San Diego

There have been concerns about Poland’s democracy since the party of Law and Justice (PiS) came to power in 2015. The party has introduced legislation that restricts the rights of women, migrants,...

How Mexico’s Femicide Exposes Its Corruption

Jun 5, 2022 | University of California, San Diego

Femicide is broadly defined by the World Health Organization as the intentional killing of women because they are women. Mexico has been facing a femicide crisis since at least 1993. Since the...