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.

What the Madhesi Movement Reveals About Nepal’s Democratic Erosion

The blog post argues that Nepal’s marginalization of the Madhesi community through economic exploitation, political exclusion, racialized discrimination, and constitutional design reveals the 2015 Madhesi Movement as a warning sign of democratic backsliding driven by elite power preservation rather than a simple border or foreign policy dispute.

Namibia’s Troubling Drift Toward Democratic Erosion

This article delves into how the recent 2024 presidential election and contradicting executive laws have greatly impacted the state of democracy in Namibia.

Will Protests in Morocco Lead to Meaningful Change?

The wave of protests against King Mohammed VI in Morocco are unlikely to succeed.

Poland’s Democratic Paradox: The Remarkable Path Toward (and Away?) from Democratic Erosion

Apr 25, 2024 | William Jewell College

For any country, democratic backsliding can happen suddenly and, seemingly, unpredictably. The case for Poland, however, demonstrates predictors of erosion unseen anywhere...

Can an Earthquake Threaten the Non-Democratic Reign of Morocco’s King?

Apr 23, 2024 | Ursinus College

The wealthiest man in Morocco has little interest in abdicating his throne. He has barely any interest in spending his time in the land that he rules, either – former...

Democratic Erosion Disguised as COVID-19 Measures in Turkey

Dec 13, 2020 | Sabanci University

Turkey is apparently a country with declining democratic performance. The elections, the consolidation of unchecked power in the hands of President Erdogan, widespread corruption among the political...

President Macron’s Tendency to Implement an Authoritarian Political Agenda

Dec 13, 2020 | Sabanci University

French street movements occupy the international media since Yellow vests Movements began in 2018. As already known, the movements began over a public discontentment derived from general economic...

Is There Light at the End of the Tunnel for Turkey?

Dec 13, 2020 | Sabanci University

Turkey has long been dealing with populism, presenting itself as a perfect case study where scholars can work on how populism and democratic backsliding can go hand in hand. President Erdoğan’s...

Autumn Winds of the Hungarian Democracy

Dec 13, 2020 | Sabanci University

Eurus, God of the East Wind and Autumn Viktor Orbán, Prime Minister of Hungary In many parts of the world, rivers of humanity are drying, fruits of globalization perishing, and dictators coming down...

A Shift or Continuation in Tactics on Democratic Backsliding: Hungary under the Populist Rule of Orbán

Dec 13, 2020 | Sabanci University

With a reference to the transition paradigm, most democratic transitions have been analyzed within the context of a movement towards democratic transition. It is argued that liberal democracy has...

The Practical Power of the Secret Police in Democratic Erosion

Dec 13, 2020 | Sabanci University

Erosions of democracy under authoritarian rulers happen through numerous channels, with an important channel being institutions. Institutions structuralize governance according to the vision of the...

The Right Way of Combatting Democratic Erosion

Dec 13, 2020 | Sabanci University

DEVA | How to fight against a Populist. Deva is a newly formed organization lead by Ali Babacan. A well-experienced politician but also can be defined as a Technocrat who was formerly a Founding...

Moon Jae-In’s Attack on Democracy in South Korea

Dec 12, 2020 | Georgia State University, Georgia State University Perimeter College

Among experts, the notion of democratic backsliding sounds many alarms, given events taking place in South Korea’s current government. As the country gradually phases out the previous authoritarian...

The Fall of Democracy

Dec 11, 2020 | Georgia State University, Georgia State University Perimeter College

Democracy is an ideology that has long endured dating back since the B.C. era and even though it has existed for a long period of time not everyone has had the chance to experience democracy. In...