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.

Tensions Escalate Following Terrorist Attack in Northern Kosovo

Oct 13, 2023 | Salem State University

By Luciano Hoxhaj On September 24, 2023, more than 30 armed Serbs attacked a monastery in Banjska, a village near Kosovo’s northern border with Serbia. The attack saw four...

Ghana Protests: Example of Democratic Backsliding

Oct 13, 2023 | Salem State University

In September, Ghana saw a wave of protests against the economic crisis that has been ravaging the country for the past five years. The protests happened in front of the...

Orbán’s “Will of the Nation” Does Not Include LGBTQ+ Citizens

Mar 11, 2021 | Northeastern University

Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orbán has passed a series of measures effectively curtailing the civil liberties of the country’s LGBTQ+ citizens. A well-established populist, Orbán seeks...

Populism as a Tool: Positive Aspects of Bolivian Populism That Aided Democratic Representation

Mar 11, 2021 | Northeastern University

Populism is often derided and with good reason. The term as applied in numerous cases offers little to praise. One common perception of populism is that it erodes democracy and often devolves into...

Democratic Subversion by the Cotton King of Benin

Mar 9, 2021 | American University

Sub-Saharan Africa is a continent notorious for recalcitrant dictators, authoritarian tendencies, and extensive patron-client networks. However, since the Third Wave of Democratization, the...

The Continuing Threat of Populism to American Democracy

Mar 8, 2021 | Rollins College

Response to: https://democraticeros.wpengine.com/2020/11/18/how-the-trump-base-represents-the-danger-that-populism-continues-to-pose-to-american-democracy/ Only 4 days after Election Day,...

A Response to “The Aftermath of a Populist Leader in a Democracy”

Mar 8, 2021 | Rollins College

This is a blog post in response to the article by Sarah Penkava titled “The Aftermath of a Populist Leader in a Democracy”, published on the 3rd of December, 2020. She discusses the massive impacts...

Why Far Right Propaganda Became a Threat to Democracy

Mar 7, 2021 | Rollins College

Burke is correct in claiming that the issues of far-right political beliefs have been an unfortunate constant in the United States for decades. Donald Trump’s presidency (and the use of the agencies...

Greene Is Too Green and Too Dangerous To Be in Congress

Mar 6, 2021 | American University

A self-involved siding contractor with a passion for CrossFit is not qualified to represent American democracy. Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene clearly lacks world knowledge, professionalism,...

#RecuperemosChile: Chile Is Once Again Using Tools of Its Authoritarian Past

Mar 5, 2021 | American University

On February 10th, 2021, amid a worldwide health crisis, Chilean authorities deported 138 migrants back to their countries of origin. The images are haunting: Chilean police officers wearing medical...

How QAnon Propaganda Imperils American Democracy and Killed the GOP

Mar 5, 2021 | American University

The most tumultuous and divisive presidency in modern American history culminated in an insurrection that left global citizens in shock and historians racing to sound the alarms. What happened in...