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.

Polarization and the Further Division of Spain

Dec 19, 2022 | SUNY-Binghamton

https://www.gisreportsonline.com/r/divided-spain/ Spain has seen political polarization and country-wide division in its recent history. At the conclusion of Francisco...

Democratic Erosion with the 2022 Italian General Election

Dec 19, 2022 | SUNY-Binghamton

Democratic Erosion in Italy with the 2022 elections For most of the modern era the Italian Republic has been an incredibly unstable democracy since its creation after...

Mexico Streets on Covid-19 Days

Jun 8, 2020 | Koç University

Mexican people have been facing the abuse of power by Military and Police Brutality for many years. They have more than one reason to be sensitive about the disproportianate use of force. While the...

Senegal: Aid or Electoral Benefit?

May 29, 2020 | Koç University

Source: Le Quotiden Senegalese government initiated a nationwide food aid campaign under President Macky Sall to help citizens against COVID-19's implications. There were controversies directed to...

Rising Populist Parties in Finland: Immigration, Crime & Economy

May 29, 2020 | Koç University

Finland has always been a country that is referred to as an example of a healthy, stable, and functioning democracy. But in the last decade, there is a rise in the support for the far-right parties...

Disinformation in Democracies: Why Colombia’s Experience is a Dire Warning for the United States

May 28, 2020 | Arizona State University

Disinformation is everywhere, originates from anywhere, and threatens everyone. From Hillary Clinton’s “pizzagate”during the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election to 5G radio towers spreading the...

Anti-LGBT+ Attitude of PiS Government in Poland

May 28, 2020 | Koç University

A lot of emphasis has been made on the anti-democratic agenda of the Law and Justice Party (PiS) government in Poland [1]. Head of Poland Supreme Court says the country is moving towards an...

Romania’s Response To COVID-19 Pandemic

May 28, 2020 | Koç University

As the coronavirus pandemic spreads, many countries have taken up dramatic measures to contain the spread of the virus. The extent of these measures and the executive power granted to the leaders...

Kirchnerismo and Beyond: Politicization of Mothers and Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo

May 28, 2020 | Koç University

“We are children of the Mothers and Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo. And this is why we insist on permanently supporting the strengthening of the international system for the protection of human...

Chile: Does the Past Stay in the Past?

May 28, 2020 | Koç University

As Carl Sagan stated, “You have to know the past to understand the present.” This is especially true for Chile. After 17 dark years Chile became a country in which democracy functions well,...

Taiwan’s Rejection by the WHO Worries Citizens: COVID-19’s Effects on Diplomatic Relations

May 28, 2020 | Koç University

Taiwan remains as reporting one of the lowest cases in COVID-19 disease. With the state’s meticulous and early measures, the world needs to be looking up for the precautions. However, the World...