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.

Unstable Politics in Myanmar: A Wicked Problem for ASEAN?

Oct 12, 2023 | School of Public Policy, Chiang Mai University

Introduction The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has faced an enormous challenge as a result of the military coup in Myanmar in February 2021. The group has...

Institutional Chess: How Institutional Arrangements Propel Junta Leader Min Aung Hlaing

Oct 12, 2023 | School of Public Policy, Chiang Mai University

In the world of authoritarian regimes, the longevity of autocratic leaders often hinges on the institutions they establish and control. Myanmar has been a prime example of...

Bolsonaro’s Rise in Brazil: Are the Suggestions of His Son Eduardo and Vice President Hamilton Serious?

Jan 15, 2021 | Koç University

After the elections held in October 2018, the major change for Brazil has come to existence in which the country’s democratic backsliding will intensely seem to increase. His populist discourses...

Priority of Ecuadorians: Democracy or Economic Welfare?

Jan 15, 2021 | Koç University

Ecuador has seen a prosperity period between 2007 and 2017. The populist leader implied socialist economic policies and economic welfare of the Ecuadorians improved. He created a new constitutional...

Warning Signs for Georgian Democracy

Jan 15, 2021 | Koç University

Thirty years after independence from the Soviet Union, the political landscape in Georgia is more polarized than ever. Currently, the major rift takes place between the ruling Georgian Dream Party...

Slovakia: Corruption, Populism, and Representation Issues; Can Anti-Establishment Movement Change It?

Jan 15, 2021 | Koç University

Picture: Left to right; Matovic, Caputova, Fico. Retrieved from https://dam.nmhmedia.sk/image/3d7bd6a9-0365-4bef-969b-92c96faae26d_phpzrlvlq.jpg/1200/630 Slovakian democracy is young and has recent...

How Italian Electoral Laws and Changes Affect Italian Democracy

Jan 15, 2021 | Koç University

Many different factors can be influential on the choice of the people in free and fair elections which are the requirements of democracy. Economic, political, social, and other reasons determine...

Consolidating Peace and Democracy in Colombia by Procedural and Institutional Safeguards: The Case of FARC

Jan 15, 2021 | Koç University

Politics of Peace and the Influence of Polarization The situation of FARC is an important case in a way that it shows the...

AMLO’s Presidency: Violence, Corruption and Mexico’s ‘Fourth Transformation’

Jan 12, 2021 | Koç University

Photograph by Manuel Velásquez/Getty Images Andrés Manuel López Obrador elected president in 2018 Mexican General Elections. He not only became president with a huge margin and %53 of the vote, but...

What Happens When the President of the United States Shows His True Authoritarian and Populist Leanings?

Jan 11, 2021 | University of Denver

The world is ending. This is the thought that went through the minds of many Americans this past summer. It was a tumultuous period, filled with civil unrest, uncertainty about public health, and...

Polish Women Fight for Their Rights After Poland’s Near-Total Ban on Abortion. Will Marches Be Enough to Stop PiS?

Jan 10, 2021 | Koç University

Populist approach of Law and Justice Party (PiS) caused substantial amount of damage to democracy in Poland. PiS dominates the Polish Parliament for a long time. Party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski...