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...

Analyzing Polarization and Democratic Politics: The SAVE Act

Apr 18, 2025 | Boston University

Last week, the House passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act with a large amount of Republican support and four democratic votes. The bill requires all voters to...

Turkey: The End of “Competitive Authoritarianism”?

Apr 18, 2025 | Boston University

On March 19, 2025, the top opposition candidate, Ekrem Imamoglu, was arrested four days prior to confirmation as the opposition party’s candidate for president. Turkey’s...

Democracy Hijacked: Sudan’s Descent from Prospective Democracy into Authoritarian Rule

Nov 4, 2024 | Ohio State University

Sudan was a country with a prosperous democratic future in 2019, yet today the nation remains worse off than it initially began. With significant military violence and a brutal civil war being waged...

El Salvador’s Security Crackdown: A Path to Authoritarianism?

Nov 4, 2024 | Ohio State University

In the last two years, El Salvador has witnessed an unprecedented state-led crackdown on gang violence under President Nayib Bukele. The policies, which include mass arrests, curfews, and suspension...

Senate Removals and Executive Power: How the Philippines Continues to Backslide on Democracy

Nov 4, 2024 | Ohio State University

Recent events in the Philippines demonstrate how democratic backsliding can be very slow and quiet, but still impactful. In particular, it shows how power and influence in the executive can...

Censorship and Deception: How Social Media Controls Fuel Misinformation in Turkey

Nov 4, 2024 | Ohio State University

In August of this year Turkey’s Information and Communication Technologies Authority blocked the social media platform Instagram as an effort to regulate access to the internet. With the rapid...

The Militarization of Government and Policing in Brazil: A Case Study of Democratic Backsliding Under Jair Bolsonaro

Nov 4, 2024 | Ohio State University

Democratic backsliding is a process often marked not by dramatic coups, but by subtle, legal maneuvers that gradually weaken democratic norms. This slow unraveling was evident in Brazil during the...

Dissolving Political Parties in Thailand

Nov 4, 2024 | Ohio State University

Democratic institutions are breaking down and being taken away in Thailand. This is a direct sign of democratic erosion. Democratic erosion or backsliding occurs when there is “...a deterioration of...

Cohabitation and a Turbulent Tribunal – The State of Polish Democracy

Nov 3, 2024 | Ohio State University

With the Government responsible for Poland's democratic backsliding losing legislative control, can its power entrenched in the courts be undone by the new Prime Minister? With the fall of...

Not an Isolated Incident: Police Brutality, Extremism and Xenophobia in Greece

Nov 2, 2024 | Ohio State University

The arrest and death of Muhammad Kamran Ashiq in police custody in Greece was a tragedy. While the Greek government and Athens police may attribute his death as a rare case, Ashiq's death reveals...

A Decade of Erosion Paints an Unfortunate Picture for Indonesian Democracy as Subianto Takes Office

Oct 30, 2024 | Ohio State University

As of October 20, 2024, Indonesia has a new president. Prabowo Subianto’s political history is anything but ordinary, as he was able to assume the highest office despite his past involvement with...