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.

Hollowing out the State: DOGE and the Administrative Erosion of American Democracy

On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order establishing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a body embedded within the existing U.S. Digital Service and led by tech billionaire Elon Musk. Framed publicly as a crusade against wasteful...

Look at What They Took From You: MAGA Polarization Through Social Media

With the accessibility of social media, how does the current administration use it to create polarization?

From Secularism to Islamic Authority: Democratic Backsliding in Bangladesh

The journalists and citizens of Bangladesh look to the Jamaat to abide by the July National Charter of 2025, which seeks to prevent autocratic rule from institutionalizing once more.

Bolivia’s Decline in Democracy: The Failure to Uphold Constitutional Integrity

Aug 7, 2024 | University of Denver

A modern political democracy is a system where rules are held accountable by citizens through their elected representatives, either through competition or cooperation....

How Does Taiwan Weather the Storm of Democratic Erosion? by Michael Cowden

Aug 6, 2024 | University of Denver

Taiwan, or the Republic of China, is a small autonomous island that lies southeast of the People’s Republic of China. Recent global headlines have positioned Taiwan as a...

Stop the Steal: The Age of Conspiracy Theories and Disinformation

Nov 18, 2020 | University of Chicago

“As for the lack of evidence that is the mantra of all you flying monkeys. It’s like denying the Holocaust. The evidence is overwhelming and compelling, despite the framing of your question.” This...

The Boycotting Dilemma

Nov 18, 2020 | University of Chicago

On September 2, prominent Venezuelan opposition figure Henrique Capriles announced his support for opposition candidates in the upcoming December legislative elections. The announcement garnered...

Is Lindsey Graham the Biggest Threat to American Democracy?

Nov 18, 2020 | University of Chicago

In the last two weeks, South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham’s vocal support for President Trump has reached new heights. Graham has perpetuated Trump’s claims that the election was...

How the Trump Base Represents the Danger that Populism Continues To Pose to American Democracy

Nov 18, 2020 | University of Chicago

On November 7th, 4 days after Election Day, Joe Biden was projected to have defeated President Donald Trump and declared to be the 46th President of the United States by all major news sources,...

Media Independence? Lessons From Putin

Nov 18, 2020 | University of Chicago

The 2020 election has brought to light the vast extent of misinformation, doubt of the validity of electoral outcomes, and divisions on even the role of facts within the United States media coverage...

Georgia: Unintended Runoff Consequences

Nov 18, 2020 | University of Chicago

The two Georgia runoff elections for senate positions are key events contributing to the ongoing democratic erosion going on in the United States with regards to the discrediting of the national...

Abolish the Electoral College

Nov 18, 2020 | University of Chicago

For the seventh time out of the last eight presidential elections, the Democratic Party has once again managed to win the popular vote but, despite these repeated victories, they have only won five...

Conspiracy and Right-Wing Populism: The Lasting Threat QAnon Poses to U.S. Democracy

Nov 18, 2020 | University of Chicago

Since the presidential election, QAnon followers have been forced to reckon with an identity crisis. “Q” failed to post for over a week after the election, and in that time questions about his...

Big Tech and Misinformation: How Increased Government Regulation of the Industry Can Safeguard Democracy

Nov 18, 2020 | University of Chicago

Despite their pivotal function as distributors of news, politics, and commentary to millions of users, technology companies have recently faced increased scrutiny and criticism for promoting...