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.

Tunisia Under Saied: The Unraveling of the Arab Spring’s Lone Success Story

On January 31, 2026, Tunisian President Kais Saied extended the country’s state of emergency once more, now marking ten consecutive years of its being in effect. While he initially framed this as a temporary measure when he first extended it in 2021, its continual...

The Democratic Breakdown of Benin: Extremist Groups, Counterterrorism, and Executive Stealth Authoritarianism

A recent coup has exposed Benin’s crumbling democracy, revealing issues including the presence of extremist groups leading to flawed elite counterterrorism through international partners, and executive stealth authoritarianism.

How President Trump is initiating Democratic backsliding to assert his dominance

President Trump is using legal mechanisms to slowly undermine democratic norms, such as institutional forbearance and mutual toleration to exercise and extend total control over other democratic institutions in the United States.

El Salvador’s Security Crackdown: A Path to Authoritarianism?

Nov 4, 2024 | Ohio State University

In the last two years, El Salvador has witnessed an unprecedented state-led crackdown on gang violence under President Nayib Bukele. The policies, which include mass...

Senate Removals and Executive Power: How the Philippines Continues to Backslide on Democracy

Nov 4, 2024 | Ohio State University

Recent events in the Philippines demonstrate how democratic backsliding can be very slow and quiet, but still impactful. In particular, it shows how power and...

To Nominate or Not to Nominate: The Challenge with Gatekeeping Donald Trump

Feb 28, 2022 | University of Chicago

It is uncommon for defeated presidential candidates to run again. But, then again, Donald Trump has never been one to follow precedent. On Saturday night, the former president hinted at...

Private Government: How Workplace Democracy Can Save American Democracy

Feb 27, 2022 | University of Chicago

In a world increasingly dominated by work, many politicians, activists, and theorists have argued for the application of democratic ideals to a new scope—the workplace. Political democracy in the...

How Donald Trump Used Populist Rhetoric to Justify Anti-Democratic Stances and Actions Related to Immigration

Feb 26, 2022 | University of Chicago

Throughout his four years in office, President Donald Trump’s rhetoric on immigration was unparalleled. Trump’s willingness to brazenly insult immigrants and ethnic minorities directly played into...

Constitutional Amendment: A Direct Route to Indefinite Power

Feb 26, 2022 | University of Chicago

Once again Daniel Ortega was sworn in as President of Nicaragua for a fourth consecutive term as of January 10th, 2022. This alarming reelection has generated widespread media outrage on both...

Soft Social Credit

Feb 26, 2022 | University of Chicago

The arrival and integration of technology into political life seem to herald a great advance for the democratization of regions once thought perpetually locked in authoritarian systems, whether...

Is Populism on Its Way Out of Europe?

Feb 26, 2022 | University of Chicago

Emerging evidence shows that populist support in Europe may be waning. A YouGov survey found that fewer people agree with targeted statements meant to measure populist beliefs [1]. Populism,...

Trudeau’s Shutdown of the Trucker Protests Protected Democracy

Feb 26, 2022 | University of Chicago

Recently, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked emergency powers in Canada in order to shut down protests. The protests were started by a group of truckers who were against the cross-border vaccine...

The Global Echo of Viktor Orbán’s Populist Cries

Feb 26, 2022 | University of Chicago

On January 3, former U.S. president Donald Trump offered, via his Save America political action committee, an endorsement of Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán ahead of the 2022 parliamentary...

What Does the Russian Invasion of Ukraine Mean for Belarus?

Feb 26, 2022 | University of Chicago

Belarus is widely regarded as an authoritarian state, headed by President Alexander Lukashenko. His most recent, fraudulent reelection in 2020 inspired unprecedented pro-democracy protests, leading...