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.

The Erosion of an Already Weak Democracy: The Rise and Fall of Jovenel Moïse

Jovenel Moïse's presidency marked a dangerous shift from Haiti's already shaky democracy to overt authoritarianism. Delayed elections, unchecked abuse of executive power, and violent suppression of resistance became the norm. By the time of his assassination in 2021,...

Undermining the Feedback Loop: How Trump’s Educational Policies Hinder Democratic Accountability

In a larger trend of censoring opinions which the Trump administration views as undesirable, the Trump administration’s actions towards schools and universities has a negative impact on democracy as a whole. Such a system depends on the free transmission of...

Democracy Six Feet Under: How Disinformation is Burying Philippine Democracy Alive

Philippine democracy is in great danger once again now that the two families who benefited the most from disinformation – the Marcoses and Dutertes, are in power and have turned against one another. As both camps sling disinformation against each other, the...

Malaysia’s Institutional, Socio-cultural, and Foreign Challenges to Democracy

Oct 29, 2023 | Arizona State University

The case of Malaysian politics is a fascinating subject. In 2023, V-Dem considered Malaysia an electoral autocracy, although the report also stated it appears to be...

Georgia’s Gerrymandering, Legal Institutions, and Democratic Backsliding

Oct 29, 2023 | Arizona State University

A federal judge ruled that Georgia’s congressional and state legislative districts must be redrawn prior to the 2024 election. The report concluded that the Republican-drawn...

The Political Dismay That Entangles Around the Nation’s Main Political Parties

Nov 19, 2020 | Suffolk University

The date of November 3rd, 2020 has been anticipated to come for over four years now due to the uprile and the call from the masses to urge citizens and voters to vote for what they believe to be a...

Connecting the Dots Between Duterte and Trump

Nov 19, 2020 | University of Chicago

Many countries have experienced leanings and developments suggesting democratic erosion, backsliding, and general shifts towards authoritarianism in the past decade, despite a global trend towards...

Is the Longevity of the American Two-Party System in Question?

Nov 19, 2020 | University of Chicago

What does it mean to be a Republican or Democrat in 2020? What did it mean in 2016, or in 2012? How has the meaning changed between the last three presidential elections? Debate over the two party...

Jammu and Kashmir as an Example of Extreme Populism in India

Nov 19, 2020 | University of Chicago

In 2014, Narendra Modi ran as the leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and won the position of Prime Minister. The major theme of the BJP is Hindutva, which is an ideology that seeks to...

Organized Crime and Stealth Authoritarianism in Albania

Nov 19, 2020 | University of Chicago

Like many European nations that have seen the erosion of democratic norms and institutions, Albania faces a majority party that has curtailed media independence and horizontal...

Presidential Upheaval in Peru: How the Public Can Protect Democracy

Nov 18, 2020 | University of Chicago

With the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing US presidential transition grabbing daily headlines, it can be difficult for the American audience to focus on the political events of any other country....

Examining the 2020 U.S. Elections Through the Public’s Eyes

Nov 18, 2020 | University of Chicago

The 2020 election year has seen many twists and turns that have impacted the usual ways we see U.S. elections performed, especially in how debates were conducted. We have seen the second planned...

William Barr’s Role in Eroding U.S. Democracy.

Nov 18, 2020 | University of Chicago

When William Barr was first touted as the likely replacement for previous United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions, many onlookers breathed a sigh of relief. Almost two years later, it is...

Wondering Why Democratic Norms Eroded in the 2020 Election? It’s More Than Just Trumpism

Nov 18, 2020 | University of Chicago

In the wake of the 2020 election, political pundits have been shocked by the complicity of Republican voters in one of the most glaring instances of democratic erosion in American politics. Half of...