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...

Courts and Populism in Poland: Guardians of Democracy or Reinforcing the Status Quo?

Oct 5, 2023 | School of Public Policy, Chiang Mai University

In recent years, populism has surged onto the global political stage, becoming a formidable political force (Guttieri, 2019). It draws its strength from its appeal to the...

Shadows Over Paradise: Mauritius’ Democracy at a Crossroads Since 2019

Oct 5, 2023 | School of Public Policy, Chiang Mai University

Mauritius, known for its political stability and vibrant democracy, has long been regarded as a shining example of democratic governance in the African region. Mauritius...

The Subtle (But Dangerous) Demagogues of Thailand

Nov 18, 2020 | University of Chicago

In Thai politics, hostility is not a good look. Trump-style demagoguery of directly bashing opponents can almost never be found among political leaders in Thailand. However, that does not mean that...

Media Influence on American Politics

Nov 18, 2020 | University of Chicago

As the aftermath of the presidential election continues to unfold, many citizens both in the United States and abroad are nervous about the fate of the American democracy. Trump’s refusal to accept...

3 Reasons Why the Media Needs To Act as a “Gatekeeper” To Protect America’s Democracy

Nov 18, 2020 | University of Chicago

Although Trump was narrowly defeated in the most recent elections, his presidency in the past four years has raised an important question about who is supposed to be the guardians of democracy....

Post-Trump: Doubt and Democracy

Nov 18, 2020 | University of Chicago

In recent weeks, President Trump lost re-election and subsequently refused to concede. He claimed he won and levied unsubstantiated accusations that the election was stolen. Against this backdrop,...

Unintentional Propaganda: How Flagging Fake News Might Help Demagogues

Nov 18, 2020 | University of Chicago

There is growing research on how belief in false information can damage democracy by promoting dangerous demagogues. As a response, companies like Facebook and Twitter have been creating new tools...

Compounding Crises Threaten Democracy in Peru

Nov 18, 2020 | University of Chicago

Peru’s interim president Francisco Sagasti finds himself surrounded by peril – a fragmented congress in which half the legislators are under investigation for alleged crimes, a series of deadly...

Is Donald Trump Actually a Populist?

Nov 18, 2020 | University of Chicago

In some academic literature regarding the definition of populism, a politician like Bernie Sanders could never be considered a populist. These scholars argue that modern day, right wing populism is...

How Trump Has Set the Stage for Democratic Erosion through the Supreme Court

Nov 18, 2020 | University of Chicago

President Trump has left a legacy that is more impactful than several presidents. However, this might not necessarily be due to his demagogic rhetoric or political blunders, but because of the...

Fostering Distrust: The Corrosive Nature of Trump’s Widespread Accusations of Voter Fraud

Nov 18, 2020 | University of Chicago

When Joe Biden was announced the President-elect of the United States, sitting President Donald Trump promptly filed multiple lawsuits in states regarding how elections were held and how ballots...