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 blogs reflect the views of the student authors, and not those of the Democratic Erosion Consortium.

When Violence Breaks the Surface: The Kirk Incident as a Warning for American Democracy

By Stavros Ligris The shooting of Charlie Kirk during a university event in Utah this September has been described as shocking, tragic, and destabilizing. But it should also be understood as part of a larger pattern of democratic decline in the United States. What...

First 100 Days, More Like First 100 Hours: How Trump’s First 100 Days Played Out Against Trump’s Second 100 Hours

Indiana Senator Jim Banks, a staunch Trump ally, predicted that President Trump’s return to power would be characterized by “shock and awe.” In many ways, the events of President Trump’s first 100 hours in office during his second term have lived up to that promise....

History Repeats: Why Strong Global Defense is Key to Preventing Autocracy

A strong and consistent global defense by democratic nations is crucial to preventing the rise of autocratic regimes, as history shows—from the Cold War doctrines to the failed democratization of Afghanistan—that without committed follow-through and structural reform, authoritarian forces will exploit weaknesses and reclaim power.

Slovakia’s Decision to Deter Immigrants from Entering the Country and Its Connection to Populism

Nov 15, 2023 |

On October 30, 2023, the newly appointed Slovak government deployed police and armed forces to the border it shares with Hungary. This deployment came after Prime Minister...

How a Third Wave of Autocratization Has Impacted Montenegro

Nov 9, 2023 |

On October 30th, the Montenegrin parliament voted for a new government after months of political tension. This tension started in June when “Europe Now”, a centrist party...

Unintentional Propaganda: How Flagging Fake News Might Help Demagogues

Nov 18, 2020 |

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 |

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 |

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 |

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 |

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...

Can “Executive Aggrandizement” Come from the Legislative Branch? Peru Says Yes.

Nov 18, 2020 |

Peru has a history of morally dubious and corrupt politicians, in fact “the past five presidents, who together governed for 33 years, have each been investigated or jailed for corruption.” But this...

The US – An Unequal Democracy

Nov 18, 2020 |

In 2018, Barack Obama said, “We’re the only advanced democracy that deliberately discourages people from voting.” This is incredibly problematic and unfortunately incredibly true. Political...

Post-Trump Populism Rule in the US. What Now?

Nov 18, 2020 |

President Trump and President Elect Biden Democracy Maintained? On November 7th, 2020 Joe Biden and Kamala Harris addressed the United States saying that “the people of this nation have spoken. They...

The Switch in Time That Saves Democracy: A Case for Packing the United States Supreme Court

Nov 18, 2020 |

On September 18, 2020, the Supreme Court delivered shocking news: longtime liberal stalwart Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died at 87 years old. Despite democratic norms against seating a new Justice...