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.

History Repeats: Why Strong Global Defense is Key to Preventing Autocracy

A strong and consistent global defense by democratic nations is crucial to preventing the rise of autocratic regimes, as history shows—from the Cold War doctrines to the failed democratization of Afghanistan—that without committed follow-through and structural reform, authoritarian forces will exploit weaknesses and reclaim power.

Women in Political Dynasties: The Illusion of Choice and Democratic Erosion in the Philippines

Political dynasties have long controlled Philippine politics, with powerful families passing down leadership positions across generations. Despite the imposition of term limits discouraging dynastic rule, these families have found their way around the constitutional...

From Stardom to Senate: The Alarming Trend of Celebrity Politics in the Philippines

The intersection of celebrity and politics in the Philippines is nothing new. The phenomenon of celebrity politicians—actors, athletes, and other public figures who go from the big screen or stage to the corridors of power—has become a defining aspect of the country's...

Ballot Initiatives: Lessons from Ohio’s November Elections

Nov 22, 2023 | Northeastern University

On Tuesday, November 7, voters in Ohio went to the polls and voted to enshrine the right to abortion in the state constitution and legalize recreational marijuana use (Issue...

Media Repression in Mexico: Why Mexico is the Deadliest Country to be a Journalist

Nov 22, 2023 | University of Memphis

Media repression threatens the civil liberties of the public and journalists. Freedom of the press is an important right that should be protected for anyone seeking a career...

“Only Some People Are Really The People:” Populism and Patriarchy

Jan 6, 2021 | University of Denver

Populist rhetoric has always been gendered. It’s always been divisive. Yet, this division justifies and is weaponized by populism itself. Renowned Political Scientists Jan-Werner Muller and Cas...

Democratic Erosion and LGBT+ Rights in Uganda

Jan 5, 2021 | University of Denver

I. Introduction Uganda is an exemplary case of the democratic erosion that typifies a number of nations in Sub-Saharan...

The Court of Last Resort: The Supreme Court and The Role of the Judiciary in Democratic Erosion

Jan 5, 2021 | University of Denver

When liberal icon, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, died at the age of 87, less than two months before an already contentious and dramatic presidential election, the future of the United...

Belarus: An Eye to Russia

Dec 20, 2020 | James Madison University

Since the first and only legitimate election in 1994, dictator Alexander Lukashenko has ruled Belarus with an iron grip. Historically apathetic to politics, Belarusians responded to the fraudulent...

The End of the Regime But the Continuation of Anti-Blackness: The Fallacies of Dominican Democracy Brought to Light

Dec 18, 2020 | Suffolk University

The year 2020 has seen the democratic fallacies of one particular nation unraveled in front of the eyes of its citizens, all within the premises of a presidential election. Acts of political...

Facebook’s Threat to Democracy: Adapting to the Times

Dec 18, 2020 | Georgia State University

Over the past few years, Facebook has faced considerable backlash. The tech giant, run by Mark Zuckerberg, has garnered notoriety for its sketchy corporate practices. These include the Cambridge...

Niger’s Upcoming Election Cycle: Falling Back on Old Authoritarian Habits

Dec 18, 2020 | Georgia State University

Niger’s general elections are quickly approaching. Scheduled for December 27th, the elections will decide who replaces presidential incumbent Mahamadou Issoufou of the Nigerien Party for Democracy...

Did COVID-19 Rescue American Democracy?

Dec 17, 2020 | Sabanci University

American democracy is in a state of democratic decline. Once rated 93 by Freedom House’s Freedom in the World index in 2013, the U.S.’s score dropped to 86 by 2019 (Repucci 2020). This regression...