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.

Authoritarianism in Singapore: Challenging Narratives of a Benevolent British Empire

British imperialism is often credited with spreading democracy, but Singapore’s colonial past shows how it can also lay the groundwork for enduring authoritarianism.

You Can’t Sit with Us: The Practice of Democratic Gatekeeping and How It Has Saved Democracies

At the 11th hour of the 2024 election many Republican politicians and members of congress took a stance against Republican candidate, Donald Trump. Through the “Republicans for Harris” tagline, they urged their supporters through various forms of appeals to vote...

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,...

Resistance Against Digital Authoritarianism: The Case of Venezuela

Jan 6, 2024 | Sabanci University

Almost every country uses digital surveillance to some extent, whether it is for crime prevention and security, healthcare, or identity verification. But in some countries...

The Overlooked Backsliding of Malagasy Democracy

Jan 4, 2024 | Sabanci University

Malagasy politics are often overlooked by the international civil society, despite its long history of tumultuous instability. Yet, the Madagascan political atmosphere...

The Great Gatekeeping Dilemma: When Efforts to Save Democracy, Subvert Democracy

Apr 22, 2021 | Boston University

After only one month in office, Marjorie Taylor Greene inflamed tensions between Republicans and Democrats. Greene is a new Republican to the House of Representatives, elected in 2020 to represent...

Greed and Greenbacks: How the Ostentatiously Rich Puppeteer American Democracy

Apr 21, 2021 | Rollins College

According to an article published by the New York Times, a dozen megadonors and their spouses contributed a combined $3.4 billion to federal candidates and political groups. This means that 12...

A Response to Danae Gaytan’s Article “Increasing ‘Voter Security’ Increases Impediments to Voting in the United States”

Apr 21, 2021 | Rollins College

Danae Gaytan recently wrote an article discussing the agenda that the republican party has to increase impediments to voting. After a contentious 2020 election and an eventual Joe Biden victory, the...

Niger: Democratizing from Blatant to Stealth Authoritarianism

Apr 21, 2021 | Arizona State University

Niger’s recent 2020 elections has been labeled an important period of democratization: securing its first transition of power between democratically elected leaders (Balima, 2021). This transition...

Democratic Erosion and the Case of Ethiopia

Apr 21, 2021 | Georgia State University

Ethiopia, a country located in the Horn of Africa, has garnered much attention due to its strategic position, its large population, and its role as a security provider within the region. When Abiy...

The 2022 Election Results Will Be a Referendum on American Democracy

Apr 21, 2021 | Boston University

On January 6th, 2021, Democrats won control of the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives, all while the Capital Building was laid under siege. Those who took part in the insurrection...

Weaponizing Anti-LGBTQ Bias: The Authoritarian’s Approach to Dismantling a Democracy

Apr 20, 2021 | American University

Piotr Grabarczyk and his boyfriend, Kamil Pawlik, arrive in Barcelona after fleeing their homeland of Poland due to intensifying anti-LGBTQ violence incited by the rhetoric of far-right president...

Idriss Deby Poised to Serve a Sixth Term

Apr 20, 2021 | American University

Chad is a country that relatively obscure to those who seldom follow African politics. A google search of Chad will produce the TV series ‘’Chad’’. However, Chad is in a very strategic location in...

Will Democracy in Myanmar Be Restored? Not Anytime Soon

Apr 20, 2021 | Boston University

On February 1, 2021, Myanmar’s military seized power and declared a one-year state of emergency after the National League for Democracy (NLD) won a landslide victory. The military backed the...