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.

These blogs reflect the views of the student authors, and not those of the Democratic Erosion Consortium.

How Recent Discriminatory Kansas Legislation is Accelerating Democratic Backsliding in the U.S.

As Kansas’s discriminatory SB 244 becomes law, America is closer than ever to abandoning democracy and becoming a competitive oligarchy.

Fear Wins Votes: Trump’s Violations and Consistent Support

This blog evaluates how Donald Trump’s political success stems from his use of fear-based rhetoric and polarization, which reshape voter priorities, weaken democratic accountability, and allow violations of democratic norms to occur without consequence.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary: A Prime Example of Authoritarian Populism

With elections in Hungary coming up this April, the country’s incumbent prime minister, Viktor Orban, is ramping up efforts to stay in power, resorting to authoritarian tactics to sway the vote in his favor once again. Orban and his Fidesz Party are facing a real...

Rallying for Democracy: Ohio’s 2024 Senate Race

Oct 11, 2024 | Ohio State University

I was eager to attend the rally in Columbus, Ohio, where Senator Sherrod Brown and his Republican opponent, Bernie Moreno, looked to mobilize voters on the first day of...

Polarization is Here, and You Can Find It on Your College Campus

Oct 11, 2024 | Ohio State University

Signs of polarization are everywhere, including in your classroom and student organizations. A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to attend a meeting of Ohio State...

Decades of Fragile Democracy: What’s in it for Myanmar?

Jun 30, 2021 | University of the Philippines, Diliman

The military coup that occurred in Myanmar last February 1, 2021, sparked new tensions between the pro-democracy protesters and the state’s military regime. It was a resurrection of an Army-state...

The Millennial Dictator: Creeping Autocracy in El Salvador

Jun 29, 2021 | University of the Philippines, Diliman

Two years after winning the presidential election, Nayib Bukele, the current President of El Salvador became popular in Latin America for being the “Social Media President”. As a typical...

Polarization’s Benefits Don’t Matter in a Backsliding Democracy

Jun 29, 2021 | University of the Philippines, Diliman

Some nation-states around the world have gone through intense polarization, democracies included. The United States, because of recent events such as the Capitol Insurrection, is an apt example of...

Ethical Hopes for Ethiopia

Jun 29, 2021 | University of the Philippines, Diliman

What could have been a supposed breakthrough of democratic change has led to a more serious threat of backsliding as Ethiopia faces challenges in maintaining their state’s democracy. Although...

Besieged Freedom Activists: Beijing’s Crackdown on Hong Kong Democracy Protests

Jun 29, 2021 | University of the Philippines, Diliman

A peaceful Sunday evening is usually spent relaxing before another bustling Monday morning. “K”, however, spent her Sunday evening as a medical volunteer in a tense and chaotic clash between...

Terrorist Candidates Are Eroding Pakistan’s Democracy

Jun 20, 2021 | University of the Philippines, Diliman

Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997 states that individuals who claim to belong to terrorist groups and create terror in the state must be arrested, detained, and subjected to the death...

Taiwan’s Democracy Is Under Chinese Threat

Jun 17, 2021 | University of the Philippines, Diliman

In celebration of Pride Month. This is a crossing in Wanhua District painted with rainbow colors.Photo Taken Here:...

Rwanda’s Constitutional Amendment: Can Democratic Backsliding Bring about Positive Change to Catalyse Democracy in the Long Run?

Jun 15, 2021 | University of Surrey

Democracy has struggled to take hold in Africa, partly due its lack of economic development amongst other factors. The failure of democracy to spur economic development in Africa has opened a...

From a Covid Crisis to a Vaccine Crisis: The Case in Iran

Jun 7, 2021 | University of Surrey

There is clear cut evidence, both in reports on democracy and through empirical evidence from around the globe, that the trend of the world is in the direction of autocracy, away from the considered...