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.

The Supreme Court’s Potential to Erode Democracy

Oct 15, 2023 | Boston University

The Supreme Court, an institution responsible for providing equal justice under the law, contradicts this role in our current democracy. As the two other branches of...

The Delegitimization of American Political Institutions

Oct 15, 2023 | Boston University

Until fairly recently, Americans tended to view their own constitutional democracy as their greatest source of joy as citizens. We saw ourselves as a shining beacon of...

The State Legislation Which You Should Be Aware Of

Apr 5, 2021 | American University

The 2020 presidential race was polarizing, extremely partisan, and brought out a lot of voters. Along with that, it occurred during a global pandemic which necessitated the use of alternatives to...

Georgia’s New Voting Law: An Expansion of Liberties or a Threat to Democracy?

Apr 5, 2021 | Rollins College

On March 25th, The Washington Post published an article titled “Georgia governor signs into law sweeping voting bill that curtails the use of drop boxes and imposes new ID requirements for mail...

Democratic Erosion in Haiti

Apr 4, 2021 | Georgia State University

Protests in Haiti, 2020. Haiti has long been in a state of revolt, as far back as the colonial age. Since Haiti declared independence in 1804, the country has had no luck in maintaining a stable...

Populist Protégé: Correa’s Plot to Rule Overseas

Apr 1, 2021 | Ursinus College

After a slight reprieve from authoritarian and populist leadership, Ecuador might see a return to the left as the current front-runner in the Ecuadorian presidential elections, Andrés Arauz, has...

It Starts in School: The Croatian Lifestyle of Corruption

Mar 31, 2021 | Georgia State University

In January of 2020, outgoing Croatian president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, who had just lost a reelection campaign, was asked a question about Croatia’s corruption problem. The president pointed a...

The WHO Handed the Chinese Government a Big Propaganda Win

Mar 31, 2021 | American University

Since the first cases of Covid-19 appeared in Wuhan, China in late 2019, politicians, epidemiologists, armchair scientists, and conspiracy theorists alike have speculated on the original vector of...

Decolonizing the Modern State

Mar 29, 2021 | American University

The modern state is often traced back to the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648. In this narrative, the current political order is tied to ideas of religious tolerance and respect for sovereignty. Those...

What Is Fueling Political Unrest in Haiti?

Mar 29, 2021 | Ursinus College

What is Happening in Haiti? For the past month, Haiti has experienced a period of political unrest brought on by questions over...

The Protest of a De-Democratized Colombia

Mar 29, 2021 | Georgia State University

The Protest of a De-Democratized Colombia Intro: In September of 2020, seven people were killed during their demonstrations against the influx of corruption in Colombia, following the death of a man...