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...

The Threat of Extreme Partisanship in the Post-Trump Era: Warnings from the Ouster of Kevin McCarthy

Oct 18, 2023 | Boston University

On October 3rd, 2023, Kevin McCarthy was removed as Speaker of the House of Representatives in a 216-210 vote, becoming the first person in American history to ever be...

India’s Free Speech Censorship is Ruining Democracy

Oct 17, 2023 | Boston University

India’s democratic backsliding has been a topic of concern for many decades. However, in recent years, the censorship of free speech in particular has led to detrimental...

The Purpose of an Independent Media in Democracy and the Loss of Credibility

Nov 17, 2020 | University of Chicago

On October 5, President Trump gave a news conference on the state of the recent election. At that time, Biden had been leading in key states and it appeared that his victory was imminent. However,...

Lessons in Democratic Erosion: The Case of India

Nov 17, 2020 | University of Chicago

Democracy in India is certainly at risk, if not already subverted, a demise that has been turbocharged under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. That such a state of affairs is unfolding in India is...

The Men Behind Trump: The Threat to American Democracy Isn’t Over Yet

Nov 17, 2020 | University of Chicago

Last week, President Donald Trump was voted out of office by an American populace ready to replace him. This rightly seems like a signal that the majority of Americans are ready to move past Trump’s...

Ivory Coast Election Crisis

Nov 17, 2020 | Northeastern University

Elements of Ivory Coast’s tumultuous political past following its autonomy from France have threatened the nation’s attempts at democracy yet again. Ivory Coast secured its independence in 1960, and...

Populism, Democrat Strategy, and the Definition of Insanity

Nov 17, 2020 | University of Chicago

As the 2020 election winds down and the Democratic Party has, by all reputable accounts, been confirmed as the victor, Op-Eds across the internet have been released mourning the death of the...

A Certain Majority

Nov 17, 2020 | University of Chicago

One of the specific criteria of populist leaders according to Jan-Werner Müller is antipluralism. He writes, “[Populists] claim that they and they alone represent the people.” [1] Instead of...

Why Unpopular Politicians Win Elections: Lessons from Kentucky

Nov 17, 2020 | University of Chicago

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is one of the least popular politicians in the nation— and that’s not just a matter of opinion. According to a 2019 Morning Consult survey, McConnell...

Donald the Lame-Duck President

Nov 17, 2020 | University of Chicago

The Donald is officially a lame duck. That’s all folks! Or is it…. On November 9th, not even one week after the general election that eventually quashed his chances of a second term, the president...

Trump’s Attacks on American Democracy: The Lead-Up to the 2020 Election

Nov 17, 2020 | University of Georgia

President Donald Trump, in his efforts to retain the Presidency of the United States for a second term, has engaged in many behaviors in the past few months that undermine the very basis of...