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.

Drawing the Line in Law: How India’s CAA Turns Citizenship into a Religious Test

India's Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) exemplifies how the application of a supposedly technical citizenship law can subvert the democratic boundaries between "citizens" and "non-citizens." By making provisions for the expedited naturalization of select non-Muslim...

Backsliding or Normalization? What is Driving the Changes to Chilean Voting Laws

As Chile changes its voting laws for immigrants it is backsliding away from a highly progressive past while still remaining relatively progressive; what does this mean for democracy and democratic erosion?

Democracy and the Press: Netanyahu’s Threat to Media Freedom

An analysis of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent efforts to restrict free media in Israel.

Is Thailand a Democracy? Its 2023 Election Suggest Not

Nov 21, 2023 | Northeastern University

Despite not winning Thailand’s most recent election in May 2023, Srettha Thavisin of the Pheu Thai Party (PTP) became the nation’s prime minister in August. How could...

Czechia: Is Democratic Erosion Covertly at an All Time High?

Nov 21, 2023 | University of Memphis

In the heart of Central Europe, Czechia, formerly known as the Czech Republic, has long been celebrated for its rich history and democratic evolution post the Velvet...

Pakistan’s Military “Games” Continue During the COVID-19 Pandemic, and Democracy Loses Out

Nov 1, 2020 | Georgia State University

The military has always played a significant role in Pakistan’s political decision-making and possess a great deal of influence on governmental entities. In recent years, the involvement of the...

Political Polarization in the Social (Distancing) Media Era

Oct 30, 2020 | University of Chicago

On March 19,2020 the first stay at home orders were announced in response to the Covid-19 virus[1] and within the next few weeks millions of Americans stocked up on essentials and locked themselves...

The Colorado Party and Stealth Authoritarianism: Today’s El Stronato

Oct 29, 2020 | Williams College

The Western media has been hyper-focused on the American presidential election, and rightfully so. American media outlets have much domestic material to discuss as polarization increases throughout...

The Liberal Dilemma

Oct 28, 2020 | Georgia State University

It has long been established that the two-party system is here to stay. A historical precedent, starting with the federalist debate, set the long reigning two-party system. With no shortage of...

The Resurrection of Mas as a Step Towards Democratic Stability in Bolivia

Oct 27, 2020 | University of Chicago

Last weekend, on October 18th, Luis Arce of the Movimiento al Socialismo (Mas) party won the Bolivian presidential election by a comfortable margin and Jeanine Anez, the evangelical leader of the...

Top of the Pops: The Populist Reality Show Star with the Lowest Approval

Oct 26, 2020 | Georgia State University

How can we classify the self-pitched-Playboy-Cover-model son of a wealthy, racist real estate developer as a populist when he is neither like the people he claims to represent nor does he enact...

Uprising in Belarus: Protesting Is a Universal Language

Oct 26, 2020 | Georgia State University

In 1966, just two short years before his life would be taken by the infuriated opposition, Martin Luther King, Jr. said in an interview, when asked about “Black Power,” that “a riot is the language...

The Mansfield Blue Wave

Oct 25, 2020 | Suffolk University

Democracy is at its most fragile during times of war, terrorism, and elections. The United States just happens to be at a crossroads of all three. With constant war being funded in the Middle East...

Misperception Is Reality: The Psychology of Political Polarization in the United States

Oct 25, 2020 | Suffolk University

Americans are not as polarized as we think we are. A new report from Beyond Conflict, a non-profit that leverages research from cognitive and behavioral science to address issues of conflict...