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 are student blog posts written by student participants in the Democratic Erosion Course. These posts were not written by nor represent the views of the Democratic Erosion Consortium.

Food Security is Rooted Abroad

Global fertilizer supply chains connect geopolitical events abroad to food production at home in ways most consumers don’t see.

The Meaning of Silence : What the moment of silence for Melissa Hortman says about American democracy

On June 14, 2025, the lives of Melissa Hortman who was a House speaker in Minnesota and her husband Mark were taken in what authorities believe to be a politically motivated act of violence. The same day Senator John Hoffman and his wife were also shot and...

Buying Injustice: The Hidden Harms of this Act.

Are we looking to create a thriving society, or are we allowing fear into the lives of immigrant families? As new immigration policies appear, the question become, how do we prevent the changes that involve separating families and dismantling the place that...

Americas Political Polarization Problem

Apr 20, 2025 | Boston University

Polarization in the United States no longer serves democracy, but instead serves as a tool for those in power. Instead of increasing political polarization and allowing...

Germany’s Defense of Democracy

Apr 20, 2025 | University of Memphis, Featured

With the recent elections in Germany, there is a clear growth in favor of populist leaders. The election saw record-breaking voter turnout, with 82.5% of eligible voters...

Media Restrictions in an Increasingly Divided Poland

Nov 28, 2021 | Salem State University

As the Polish government cracks down on foreign media influence, critics question if it is simply an attempt to silence divergent opinions. On August 11th, Poland’s lower house approved a bill...

Ortega’s Reelection Signals Shift Towards Autocracy in Nicaragua

Nov 28, 2021 | Suffolk University

Daniel Ortega once liberated the Nicaraguan people from dictatorial rule. Now, he leads them towards autocracy. The result of Nicaragua’s presidential election was sealed months before election day...

Is the Instability Created by Presidential and Political Corruption Leading Honduras Towards an Autocracy?

Nov 26, 2021 | Suffolk University

Back in 1982, when Honduras worked to pass their twelfth and most democratic constitution, Hondurans had hope for the potential of their democracy and government. They were optimistic about the...

Poland’s Eroding Democracy and the European Parliament

Nov 25, 2021 | University of Georgia

A trend that has become increasingly more noticeable over the past several years is the democratic erosion of Eastern European institutions, which is seen clearly in countries such as Belarus,...

The Real Terrorist Threat Isn’t Who We Think It Is

Nov 24, 2021 | University of Utah

Italian Democracy: The Blueprint for Trumpism, I mean Populism…

Nov 23, 2021 | Georgia State University

Democracy can be hard sometimes. The Us Vs. Them divide deepens in democracies around the world with every populist that finds a way to magnify their voice. How did we get here? Your bran likely...

The Opioid Crisis: A Symptom of Systemic Inefficiency

Nov 19, 2021 | Suffolk University

The United States is facing two catastrophic challenges simultaneously, a pandemic, and a forgotten but long-present epidemic, the US opioid crisis. While talk of opioids and overdoses is not new to...

Gerrymandering Threatens Democracy

Nov 17, 2021 | Salem State University

With the midterm elections a year away, battles over redistricting are happening all over the United States, including in Texas. There, Republicans have forged their political agendas through...

Redistricting: Killing Democratic Processes

Nov 9, 2021 | University of Georgia

Redistricting determines the extent of a party’s hold on a state’s political power for an entire decade. Sometimes, the politicians that are responsible for updating the district maps every decade...