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.

Donald Trump the Nazi Reincarnate?: Godwin’s Law and How This Phenomenon is Counterproductive to Understanding Democratic Erosion

What do we hope to accomplish when comparing President Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler, a tyrannical perpetrator of genocide?

The Russia-Ukraine War Bodes Poorly for Democracy, But Not in the Way You Think

The Russia-Ukraine War is a serious threat to global democracy through the growing wave of isolationism in the United States, an entity that has typically been at the forefront of fighting authoritarianism across the world.

The Trump Administration’s Attack on USAID

The Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle USAID, increase concerns about democratic backsliding as it could result in a trend with the executive undermining institutional legitimacy.

The Infamous Transformation of SCOTUS: An American Horror Story

Jan 1, 2023 | Sabanci University

In this epoch, it is not seldom to come across an example of backsliding democracy. In a way, this phenomenon defines the gist of our times. However, the kind we witness in...

Hungary: Europe’s Electoral Autocracy

Jan 1, 2023 | Sabanci University

Democratic backsliding refers to the decline or reversal of democratic principles and practices within a political system. This can be caused by the weakening of democratic...

Young Citizens Need to Have a Say in the U.S Government

Oct 19, 2020 | Suffolk University

By Porscha Maurer October 13, 2020 Becoming a Suffolk Votes Ambassador at Suffolk University in Boston, Massachusetts was one of the most enlightening experiences for any 18-year-old who is...

Voter Suppression in the 21st Century

Oct 19, 2020 | Suffolk University

WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? Lately, democracy and democratic ideals, have become synonyms for popular legislation rather than actual democracy procedures. So that begs the question, what is democracy...

Young People and Politics: How to Increase Youth Civic Engagement

Oct 18, 2020 | Suffolk University

Who is voting in the 2020 presidential election? Will voter norms continue this year, or will things change? In this blog post, I talk about my experience with politics as a college student and how...

Pandemics and Poor Planning Create Cocktail for Chaos

Oct 18, 2020 | Suffolk University

Faced with sudden challenges due to the pandemic, along with circulating misinformation, voters are left confused ahead of the November election....

A Debate or T.V. Show?

Oct 18, 2020 | Suffolk University

The year is 2020. Not only have we lost people, but we’ve also lost the will to elect sensible candidates for our country. Now now, I know it’s controversial, but who would I be if I didn’t touch on...

Hope for Youth Voter Turnout in Future Elections

Oct 18, 2020 | Suffolk University

It is widely known that there is low voter turnout among those in younger age ranges, particularly those between 18 and 24. Through working as a Suffolks Votes Ambassador I was able to interact with...

A Peaceful Transfer of Power and the American People’s Concern for Their Election’s Security

Oct 18, 2020 | University of Georgia

The United States has faced an arguably unprecedented combination of factors, both domestic and international, throughout 2020 that have created the present day political climate that will shape the...

1865 Oppression or 2020 Suppression?

Oct 18, 2020 | Suffolk University

Right to Vote I must warn you that this is my very first time writing and posting a blog. This personal style or type of opinion, I have recently learned is the main form of expression found on many...

The Civil Unrest That Lays Silently With Breonna Taylor

Oct 18, 2020 | Suffolk University

For a span of more than five months, riled up supporters and mourners of Breanna Taylor were anticipating that on September 24th, 2020, the three cops of the Louisville Metro Police Department ...