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...

China in Cambodia: Threat to Regional Stability

Oct 15, 2023 | School of Public Policy, Chiang Mai University

The shrinking of Cambodia’s civic and political space mirrors the elections and authoritarian consolidation of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP). Since 2021, Cambodia’s...

Aspects for Deliberation: Can Democracy Truly Foster Gender Equality and Dismantle Patriarchy’s Structural?

Oct 15, 2023 | School of Public Policy, Chiang Mai University

Introduction Gender equality and the dismantling of the patriarchal system are essential components of social progress. While democracy is often viewed as a system that...

Rise of CyberSecurity Challenges Due to Covid

Oct 20, 2020 | Suffolk University

Early this year around April, I noticed that I was receiving a lot more spam mail than usual. I also received calls from unknown numbers more frequently, as well as scam applications for various...

Progressive Federalism in Practice: State Attorneys General As Safeguards Against Executive Aggrandizement

Oct 20, 2020 | Williams College

“Trump gets powerful new rival in Letitia James,” proclaimed one headline. “The thorn in Trump's side,” said another, soon after New York Attorney General Letitia James took office in 2019. Almost...

“Democratic” Elections in Cameroon

Oct 20, 2020 | Williams College

What does it mean when everyone already knows the results of an election months, or even years, before it occurs? The citizens of Cameroon, a country in Central Africa, expect the...

Partisanship: A Threat to American Judicial Independence

Oct 20, 2020 | Williams College

It is no secret to pro-democracy advocates and authoritarian rulers alike that an independent judiciary is a fundamental protection against authoritarian regression. Indeed, an independent judiciary...

American Exceptionalism or An Eroding Election?: Destructive Voting Procedures in the United States

Oct 20, 2020 | Williams College

During a Virtual Roundtable on Voting and Electoral Manipulation that occurred on Friday, September 25th, democratic erosion experts pointed to the unfortunate fact that voters in the United States...

Looking Beyond the SHIELD ACT: American Responses to Foreign Intervention Are Too Limited in Scope

Oct 19, 2020 | University of Chicago

Reforms proposed in the SHIELD ACT to limit foreign financial contributions in the 2020 election are insufficient to protect electoral integrity. Foreign agents have other political tools at their...

Subjugating the Fourth Branch: the Case of Public Media in the Polish Presidential Election

Oct 19, 2020 | University of Chicago

On June 13th 2020, the incumbent Andrzej Duda secured another 5 years in office as the president of the Republic of Poland. After a fierce battle and with a mere 400 thousand votes of advantage, he...

Thriving in the Time of Corona: New Zealand’s Exemplary COVID-19 Response

Oct 19, 2020 | Williams College

New Zealand’s response to the COVID-19 epidemic under the leadership of Jacinda Ardern and the labour party has arguably been the best in the world. The strength of a government can be defined by...