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.

Crackdown of the Civil Society in Belarus

Jul 24, 2023 | Arizona State University

By Carly Chabrier and Veera Tyhtilä On 23 July 2021, the Ministry of Justice of Belarus forced 43 non-governmental organizations to close and terminate all their...

May 4, 2023 | University of Utah

On a seemingly normal day, America witnessed a threat to democracy. As Joe Biden was gearing up to take office after a turbulent election period, a group of Trump supporters...

Democratic Dilemmas: Democracy in Mexico

Dec 10, 2020 | Georgia State University Perimeter College

For democracy to thrive, its major parts must be balanced, and its citizens must be educated. For democracy to thrive, it must be protected. Mexico faces a dilemma: an eroding democracy....

A New Brand of Autocratic Consolidation: A Case Study in Ethiopia

Dec 10, 2020 | University of Georgia

A new brand of Autocratic Consolidation: A Case Study in Ethiopia He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019, but Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is now on the cusp of dealing with a civil...

Combatting Corruption in Jamaica

Dec 10, 2020 | Williams College

During a televised debate against Dr. Peter Phillips (former president and leader of the People’s National Party) , Prime Minister Holness (leader of the Jamaican Labour Party) defended...

Moldova’s Voters Didn’t Choose West Over East. They Chose Reform Over Corruption

Dec 10, 2020 | Williams College

Moldova's presidential election has been declared for Maia Sandu, who unseated incumbent Igor Dodon in a historic victory. Against a backdrop of longstanding geopolitical tension, the election has...

Algeria’s 2020 Constitutional Referendum: A Democratic Façade

Dec 9, 2020 | Williams College

With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the hegemony of the international liberal order was solidified. Although the number of democracies had been steadily increasing since Post-World War II, the...

Why Did Vizcarra Vanish? The “Legislative Coup” in Peru

Dec 9, 2020 | Williams College

We’ve all experienced the agonizingly slow process of democratic bureaucracy; we lament the lines, the paperwork, and the drudgery that is required to get anything done. But every now and then, a...

Ethnic Nationalism and Democratic Erosion in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Dec 9, 2020 | Williams College

In 1995, the Dayton Agreement ended the Bosnian War, establishing modern-day Bosnia and Herzegovina, a state explicitly structured by ethnic group. 25 years later, a strained peace persists, but...

Dynasty Politics in Democracy: Kenyattas, Odingas, and Democratic Erosion in Kenya

Dec 9, 2020 | Williams College

A key component of democratic politics is the ability for a singular person to convince others they can speak for the populace. However, there are moments when this relationship inverts and the...

The Rise of the Sweden Democrats: Democratic Erosion and Support for the Far-Right in Sweden

Dec 9, 2020 | Williams College

Sweden is commonly touted as one of the strongest democracies in the world; in Freedom House’s democratic assessment, they boast a 100 out of 100 score in a holistic assessment of democracy through...