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...

El Salvador: Trading Checks and Balances for Saftey

Apr 30, 2026 | Suffolk University

Resistances to Democratic Backsliding in Indonesia

Apr 30, 2026 | James Madison University

Indonesia has experienced continuous democratic backsliding since 2017. Despite pervasive executive aggrandizement and other continuing challenges, domestic actors have...

Italy’s Nationalism: A History of Italian Populism

Apr 18, 2026 | Boston University

The rise of populism is not a new topic. Across the world, populist leaders are being elected as right-wing parties are taking control in some of the most powerful countries in the world: United...

Disabling the Judiciary: How Tension Between Israel’s Judiciary and Governing Coalition Threatens Democracy

Apr 18, 2026 | Boston University

As of today, dozens of federal judicial positions in Israel, including 4 Supreme Court positions, remain vacant. This comes as a result of Justice Minister Yariv Levin’s continued refusal to convene...

Collapsing Democratic Norms in Peru

Apr 17, 2026 | Boston University

In an article published April 9, 2026, Diana Roy titles Peru, “South America’s most politically unstable country.” (Roy, 2026) In the past ten years, Peru has had 8 different presidents and will...

Hungary’s Opportunity

Apr 17, 2026 | Boston University

Under the leadership of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and the Fidesz party, Hungary faced years of gradual erosion of its democracy. By rewriting the constitution, a power granted by a ⅔...

All Eyes On You: Democratic Backsliding & Digital Surveillance by I.C.E in the U.S

Apr 17, 2026 | Boston University

BackgroundDemocratic backsliding is often portrayed as being the result of solely or primarily an executive using their executive power and influence to consolidate power and weaken institutions as...

How January 6th Emphasized the Importance of Strong Democratic Institutions

Apr 17, 2026 | Boston University

The certification of President Biden’s electoral victory in 2021 stands as one of the most politically contentious moments in US history. Notably, on January 6th, 2021, a mob of supporters of...

The Erosion of Democracy Through the Epstein Files: Protection of the Elites

Apr 17, 2026 | Boston University

One of the most important cases of our current time is the discourse surrounding the Epstein files. Jeffrey Epstein, an American financier, was a convicted sex offender who ran a sex trafficking...

Breakdown without a Villain: Loss of Government Function in Kosovar Democracy

Apr 17, 2026 | Boston University

On March 6, 2026, Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani called for the dissolution of parliament and another snap election, after the lawmakers elected last December failed to elect their next president....

The Bukele Model: A Story of Stealth Authoritarianism and Media Suppression in El Salvador

Apr 17, 2026 | Boston University

President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador is widely known for being well loved by his constituents. Recent polls, following his 2024 re-election, found 90% of his constituents to be in favor of Bukele...