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.

The Erosion of an Already Weak Democracy: The Rise and Fall of Jovenel Moïse

Jovenel Moïse's presidency marked a dangerous shift from Haiti's already shaky democracy to overt authoritarianism. Delayed elections, unchecked abuse of executive power, and violent suppression of resistance became the norm. By the time of his assassination in 2021,...

Undermining the Feedback Loop: How Trump’s Educational Policies Hinder Democratic Accountability

In a larger trend of censoring opinions which the Trump administration views as undesirable, the Trump administration’s actions towards schools and universities has a negative impact on democracy as a whole. Such a system depends on the free transmission of...

Democracy Six Feet Under: How Disinformation is Burying Philippine Democracy Alive

Philippine democracy is in great danger once again now that the two families who benefited the most from disinformation – the Marcoses and Dutertes, are in power and have turned against one another. As both camps sling disinformation against each other, the...

Demagogues: Turning America into the Child Left Behind

Apr 20, 2025 | University of Memphis

Image Source: Getty Images/ABC News The loud, proud American trope has been a stereotype that Americans have worn proudly on their sleeves. This image, both a source of...

Americas Political Polarization Problem

Apr 20, 2025 | Boston University

Polarization in the United States no longer serves democracy, but instead serves as a tool for those in power. Instead of increasing political polarization and allowing...

Dissolution of Democratic Norms in Trump’s America

Feb 13, 2025 | Boston University

In January, Congressman Andy Ogles, a Republican Representative for Tennessee, introduced a resolution to revise the 22nd Amendment, allowing President Trump and any future president to serve a new...

Authoritarian Reinforcement: Another 5 Years in Belarus

Feb 12, 2025 | Boston University

On January 26th, the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Belarus announced that President Alexander Lukashenko had secured a seventh term in office, extending his presidency that began over 30...

The Rise of Right-Wing Populism in Former Satellite States

Feb 12, 2025 | Boston University

Former Soviet satellite states that were once poster children for democratization following the decline of European communism have been making drastic pivots towards autocracy in recent years. In...

The 2025 Belarus Presidential Election: Another Rigged Vote Under Lukashenko

Feb 12, 2025 | Boston University

On January 26, 2025, Belarus once again went through the steps of a presidential election, but the outcome was never in doubt. According to The Guardian, Alexander Lukashenko collected 87.6% of the...

Pushing out the Opposition: How President Trump is Unraveling the Democratic System from Within

Feb 11, 2025 | Boston University

On Monday, January 25th, President Trump was sworn into office for the second time, and he has been very busy since then. His controversial candidacy and, ultimately, his presidency in 2016 pivoted...

Democratic Erosion in India: How Narendra Modi Makes Use of Offensive Populism

Feb 5, 2025 | Sabanci University

Recently party politics agenda has been occupied by the debates of rising right-wing extremism, challenging and changing the status quo in many countries. The discussion around extremism(s) attaches...

2024 Jordanian Parliamentary Elections: Rise of Loyalist Parties Under New Political Party Law

Feb 3, 2025 | Sabanci University

Jordanian parliamentary elections were held on 10 September 2024 following King Abdullah II’s decision to dissolve the parliament on 25 July 2024. After a long durée, these elections became a...

The Creche Controversy in Turkey

Feb 3, 2025 | Sabanci University

Turkey has been governed under a competitive authoritarian regime for almost a decade. The incumbent Justice and Development Party (AKP) has held power for the last 22 years, with the past decade...

Between Tutelary Democracy and Populism: 2022-2023 Pakistani Political Crisis and 2024 General Election

Feb 1, 2025 | Sabanci University

The portrait of Imran Khan, carried by the supporters of the PTI. [Shahzaib Akber/EPA] Background Pakistan, along with Turkey (until the 2010s) and Thailand, is often viewed as one of the textbook...