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.

Donald Trump the Nazi Reincarnate?: Godwin’s Law and How This Phenomenon is Counterproductive to Understanding Democratic Erosion

What do we hope to accomplish when comparing President Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler, a tyrannical perpetrator of genocide?

The Russia-Ukraine War Bodes Poorly for Democracy, But Not in the Way You Think

The Russia-Ukraine War is a serious threat to global democracy through the growing wave of isolationism in the United States, an entity that has typically been at the forefront of fighting authoritarianism across the world.

The Trump Administration’s Attack on USAID

The Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle USAID, increase concerns about democratic backsliding as it could result in a trend with the executive undermining institutional legitimacy.

Partisanship and it’s Problematic Implications

Nov 21, 2023 | University of Memphis

We seem to see partisanship growing more and more around us and in turn, mutual understanding seems to be regressing. After all, why would one trust and try to act in good...

Poland’s Democratic Resurgence: A Beacon of Hope Amidst Global Backsliding

Nov 21, 2023 | Northeastern University

After years of a shift towards autocracy, Poland’s democracy is making an appearance once again. Even though there seems to be a worrying trend of increased democratic...

The Impact of Local Elections: South Africa’s 2021 Race

Dec 20, 2021 | Suffolk University

On Nov. 1, South Africa held municipal elections with over 300 parties and 60,000 candidates running across 257 municipalities. The outcome of this election proves that the African National Congress...

Donald Trump and the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Exercise in Mistakes

Dec 17, 2021 | University of Utah

Donald Trump was handed a golden ticket to re-election with the COVID-19 crisis, yet he failed to retain his power. Why? Introduction In December of 2019, COVID-19 presented the world with a new and...

How Did Poor Leadership Cause Democratic Erosion in India

Dec 17, 2021 | Georgia State University

India first became a democratic country over 70 years ago, when they gained independence from the British colonial rule. However, in 2014 is when the country started to face heightened fear of...

El Salvador’s Democracy Is in a State of Decline: President Bukele’s Assault Rages On

Dec 17, 2021 | Suffolk University

In early November 2021, President Nayib Bukele sent troops to patrol the streets of the capital of the state, San Salvador. There was a sharp rise in murders that week which caused the President to...

Lukashenko’s Fabricated Crisis on the EU border Backfires: What Is the Russian Reaction?

Dec 16, 2021 | Suffolk University

(Image Source: Photo by James Hill | The New York Times, modified by Nicholas Cook under Fair Use) This November, Alexander Lukashenko, Belarussian "President" and strongman reached a new low in his...

The Birth of A New Democracy

Dec 12, 2021 | Georgia State University

Have you ever witnessed the fall of a dictatorship and the birth of a democracy? Well, that is exactly what transpired less than a decade ago with the Arab Spring Revolution. The Arab Spring...

The Role of Social Media in Democracy

Dec 9, 2021 | Suffolk University

Social media has become a tool in everyday life for most people. Used as a news source, to keep track of politicians’ opinions on Twitter, or for mobilization, social media serves a multitude of...

Asylum: A Call to Action

Dec 9, 2021 | Suffolk University

An asylee is an alien in the United States or at a port of entry who is most likely found to be unable or willing to return to his or her country of origin or may be seeking the protection...

Linguistic Divisions: Lasting Impacts of Colonialism in Cameroon

Dec 9, 2021 | Suffolk University

Cameroon is a country facing three major humanitarian emergencies: the Anglophone Crisis/Ambazonia Civil War, conflict with the terrorist organization Boko Haram in the Far North, and a massive...