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.

Death of Journalists in Mexico Sign of Democratic Backsliding

Nov 20, 2023 | Northeastern University

Journalists are being killed in Mexico and they’re taking the country’s democracy with them. The increasing assassination of journalists in Mexico is a sign of liberal...

Social Media and the Spreading of Disinformation. The Influence of the Digital Age and How Media is Aiding the Spread of Disinformation.

Nov 20, 2023 | University of Memphis

What is social media truly for? Is it a free place for a political candidate to promote their ideas on social media freely? A platform for tyrants to spread disinformation?...

Democratic Erosion in the United States

Nov 30, 2021 | University of Georgia

The gradual backsliding of democracy within the United States can be seen in different ways such as election day fraud, gerrymandering, and polarization. The United States has become more polarized...

The Far Right Is Eroding German Democracy, and Merkel Is the Catalyst

Nov 30, 2021 | University of Georgia

German democracy is slowly eroding, and it all comes back to Angela Merkel stepping down as chancellor. Well, that may be a bit dramatic, but the premise still stands: Angela Merkel’s relinquishing...

El Salvador Strays Further From Democracy

Nov 30, 2021 | University of Georgia

Through the recent capture of an absolute legislative majority, the party of El Salvador's charismatic President has set in motion a power grab to dismantle the democratic institution. In recent...

Populism in Hungary

Nov 30, 2021 | University of Georgia

Throughout the past decade, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party has dominated the political scene in Hungary and does not show any signs of stopping. Orbán openly classifies Hungary as an...

Is Political Polarization Taking Over the World?

Nov 30, 2021 | University of Georgia

As you look at the world as a whole, you usually see a division. It could be because of a division between a group's opinions or just because of factors like income inequality. Polarization is...

An Evaluation of Mexico’s Democratic Values

Nov 30, 2021 | University of Georgia

A functioning democracy can be defined by several key values, including electoral processes and the general functioning of the citizens as a governing body. A democracy, by definition, aims to...

Democratic Backsliding in Poland and Eastern Europe

Nov 30, 2021 | University of Georgia

Within the last decade, Poland has become a part of the global trend of democratic backsliding. Poland democratized during the fall of communism and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in Eastern...

Japan’s Concern over Taiwan and its Consequences

Nov 30, 2021 | University of Georgia

Taiwan and Japan haven't maintained much of a relationship with each other as neighboring states over the years, but this ambiguous relationship may be threatened by concerns of China’s future goals...

It Lives!: The January 6th Insurrection

Nov 30, 2021 | University of Georgia

The January 6th insurrection may have failed to achieve its goals on the day its right-wing participants stormed the U.S. Capital, but the movement was alive well before the 6th, and it continues to...