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 are student blog posts written by student participants in the Democratic Erosion Course. These posts were not written by nor represent the views of the Democratic Erosion Consortium.

Trump vs. Media: The Never Ending Crusade

In advanced liberal democracies such as the United States, democratic erosion does not come in one fell swoop. Often, norms, checks and balances, and foundational features of democracy are gradually chipped away at as to lessen resistance, comparable to a frog being...

Donald Trump’s Trade Wars and Their Implications on US Vertical Accountability

Just recently Donald Trump visited Dayton, Ohio, a region which is defined by the prevalence of their manufacturing sector, and which has seen negative impacts from ever increasing US reliance on manufactured imports. As a result of the blowbacks from increased...

From Reformer to Authoritarian

How is Zambia’s Current President Showing Signs of Democratic Backsliding In Zambia, Election Day occurs on the 2nd Thursday of August every 5 years to elect the President and Vice President. To be elected president in Zambia, a candidate must receive more than 50% of...

Indonesia: Democracy Is More Than Just Elections

Oct 19, 2026 | George Mason University

Most people when they hear the word democracy think of elections. Indonesia appears to demonstrate just that. Since the beginning of Suharto's authoritarian rule ended in...

The Inner Asian Anomaly: How Democracy Works Without Prerequisites?

Oct 19, 2026 | George Mason University

When you look at the map, Mongolia is positioned at the heart of the Eurasian continent—a location that catches your eye, yet seems a difficult geopolitical position for...

Political Power That Stays in the Family: Democratic Erosion in the Philippines

Oct 19, 2026 | George Mason University

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. casts his ballot during the 2025 Philippine midterm elections. Photo: Presidential Communications Office / Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain). In 2022, Ferdinand...

Tunisia Didn’t Reject Democracy

Oct 17, 2026 | George Mason University

In December 2010, a fruit vendor in Tunisia set himself on fire. Weeks later, the dictator fled. The Arab Spring began. Fifteen years on, Tunisians are back on the streets. This time, they are...

When Democracy Uses Its Own Institutions: How Venezuela Eroded from Within

Oct 17, 2026 | George Mason University

When Democracy Uses Its Own Institutions: How Venezuela Eroded from Within Venezuela’s democratic erosion unfolded in stages: distrust of established parties opened the door to Hugo Chávez; later...

Bolivia’s Double-Edged Transformation: How Resource Nationalism Strengthened – and Strained – Democracy

Oct 17, 2026 | George Mason University

In 2016, Bolivians were asked a simple question: should President Evo Morales be allowed to run for another term? They answered no. Yet, one year later, Bolivia’s Constitutional Tribunal removed the...

Thaksin Shinawatra: Rise, Ruin, and Political Rebirth

Oct 17, 2026 | George Mason University

First the father, then the brother-in-law and sister—and now the youngest daughter. The fourth prime minister from the Shinawatra family has been dismissed by the constitutional court. In August...

Democracy Explained by Citizen Power, Not Economic Development Alone: The Case of Malawi

Oct 17, 2026 | George Mason University

Many countries with high levels of democracy are also wealthy. This suggests that economic development and democracy are closely related. However, economic growth does not automatically lead to...

How Indonesia’s Democracy Getting Threated in Silence

Oct 17, 2026 | George Mason University

After the collapse of President Suharto’s autocratic New Order regime in 1998, Indonesia was widely celebrated as Southeast Asia’s most resilient constitutional democracy. The successful transition...

How Does Democratic Erosion of Pakistan Make Security Concerns

Oct 17, 2026 | George Mason University

Introduction The suicide bombing in August 2nd, 2026 (in Kabal, a town in Swat Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, 14 people died and more than two dozen people were injured) is not...

Democratic Erosion in Kenya: Ethnic Politics, Political Elites, and Democratic Institutions

Oct 17, 2026 | George Mason University

Introduction According to Freedom House, Kenya is a multiparty democracy that holds regular and competitive elections. However, having elections does not always mean that a democracy is strong. In...