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.

Israel’s Judicial Reforms: A Potential Danger to Democracy?

Israel’s suggested judicial reforms pose a risk to democratic checks and balances by undermining the independence of the judiciary, centralizing executive authority, and potentially weakening democratic principles, similar to what has been observed in countries like Poland.

Arresting Opposition and Squashing Protests: Democratic Backsliding in Turkey Under Erdoğan

Turkey has been inching towards autocracy under Erdoğan and the AKP for the last 22 years.

2025 Romanian Elections: An Election Redo and a Barred Candidate

Only two weeks out from Presidential Elections, Romanian voters face a tough decision in deciding on the next leader of their country. The latest opinion polls show that nearly 40% of voters are still undecided on who to vote for. After all, most voters already cast...

The Delegitimization of American Political Institutions

Oct 15, 2023 | Boston University

Until fairly recently, Americans tended to view their own constitutional democracy as their greatest source of joy as citizens. We saw ourselves as a shining beacon of...

The supreme immunity: Could it be a stealth authoritarianism?

Oct 15, 2023 | School of Public Policy, Chiang Mai University

An example from Indonesia’s new Article of libel and defamation In the essence of practicing democracy, a fundamental understanding is that it provides a safe space for both...

Trump’s Court Packing and Abuse of the Constitution

Nov 25, 2020 | Northeastern University

The recent appointment of Amy Coney Barret by Donald Trump was an obvious example of the not very new phenomenon of court packing. The idea of court packing, in the sense I am referring to, is...

Trump’s Undemocratic Lame-Duck Executions Must Not Be Ignored

Nov 25, 2020 | Northeastern University

Grover Cleveland was great at executing people. Nicknamed “The Buffalo Hangman” by opposing campaigns during his first run for president of the United States, Cleveland had been an executioner and...

America’s Acceptance of Populism

Nov 25, 2020 | Northeastern University

On June 16, 2015, the landscape of American politics and democratic norms would drastically change when former reality TV star, and soon to be 45th President, Donald Trump formally announced his run...

Trump (Kind of) Concedes: Now What?

Nov 24, 2020 | Northeastern University

Cries of “fraud” and “stop the count” have echoed throughout the country ever since Joe Biden took the lead over President Donald Trump in both the popular and electoral counts. Fervent Trump...

The Forum of São Paulo: Latin America’s Nightmare?

Nov 24, 2020 | Northeastern University

Latin America faces a wave of challenges since the start of the 21st century, rising inequality, lack of economic growth amongst other issues. However, right-wing politicians have attributed the...

Proposition 22: Corporate Manipulation at its Worst

Nov 24, 2020 | Northeastern University

In California, proposition 22 seemed innocuous. It was a simple ballot measure, should drivers that use apps like Uber and Lyft be considered employees, or independent contractors? The vote passed...

3 Presidents, 7 Days: What’s the Impact on Peruvian Politicians and Voters?

Nov 24, 2020 | Northeastern University

It seems Peruvians hate corrupt politicians, but love voting for them. Although corruption investigations and reform are normally seen as a positive democratic mechanism, they can also cause voters...

#EndSARS: The Power of the People

Nov 24, 2020 | Suffolk University

The #ENDSARS movement highlighted upon the incompetence of the Nigerian government and the power of the Nigerian people.. Nigeria has been a severe victim of democratic backsliding. Recently the...

Shattered State: Bosnia and Ethnic Division

Nov 24, 2020 | Suffolk University

Photo by Nancy Hann on Unsplash 25 years later, the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, better known as the Dayton Accords has continued to be at the core of national...