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.
Could the 2017 burning of Congress in Paraguay have led to the end years of Colorado Party dominance?
In 2017, protests erupted in Paraguay after President Horacio Cartes attempted to amend the constitution to allow for his re-election. Cartes’ influence over the Colorado Party— which has dominated Paraguayan politics for decades—has faced significant opposition due to corruption, bribery, and drug trafficking scandals, leading to public disillusionment with his party. The Colorado Party held onto power in 2023, but the lasting effects of Cartes’ actions may have provided enough fuel to the political fire to spark change in Paraguay.
The Unpaved Road Of Guatemala’s Democracy
Georgia’s Stolen Election: A Setback for Democracy and European Integration
Silenced Voices: Singapore’s Government Continues to Target Media
The utilization of POFMA, legislation that allows government officials to punish news media that do not abide by its rules and restrictions, adds to numerous other media...
Clear Democratic Erosion in South Korea: How the Presidency of Yoon Suk-yeol is Undermining Democracy
"송도동, Incheon, South Korea"/ CC0 1.0 Democratic erosion can be defined as the gradual weakening of democratic institutions in a particular country or region through the...
The Militarization of Government and Policing in Brazil: A Case Study of Democratic Backsliding Under Jair Bolsonaro
Democratic backsliding is a process often marked not by dramatic coups, but by subtle, legal maneuvers that gradually weaken democratic norms. This slow unraveling was evident in Brazil during the...
Dissolving Political Parties in Thailand
Democratic institutions are breaking down and being taken away in Thailand. This is a direct sign of democratic erosion. Democratic erosion or backsliding occurs when there is “...a deterioration of...
Cohabitation and a Turbulent Tribunal – The State of Polish Democracy
With the Government responsible for Poland's democratic backsliding losing legislative control, can its power entrenched in the courts be undone by the new Prime Minister? With the fall of...
Not an Isolated Incident: Police Brutality, Extremism and Xenophobia in Greece
The arrest and death of Muhammad Kamran Ashiq in police custody in Greece was a tragedy. While the Greek government and Athens police may attribute his death as a rare case, Ashiq's death reveals...
A Decade of Erosion Paints an Unfortunate Picture for Indonesian Democracy as Subianto Takes Office
As of October 20, 2024, Indonesia has a new president. Prabowo Subianto’s political history is anything but ordinary, as he was able to assume the highest office despite his past involvement with...
The Unraveling of Bulgarian Democracy
Bulgaria saw massive protests in 2020 against Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and his administration. These demonstrated the democratic backsliding that had been occurring since the mid-2010s. Jana...
Honduras: How Populism Lead to the Removal of the Extradition Treaty
Honduras has struggled with gang violence and, therefore, drug trafficking since the fall of Dictator-Military Leader Rafael López Gutiérrez from 1924. To this day, Honduras efforts to dismantle the...
Party Labels and the Courts: Ohio’s Shift Toward a Partisan Judiciary
On September 4th, I attended an Ohio College Democrats’ meeting and listened to Judge Lisa Forbes speak. She is currently running for a seat on the Ohio Supreme Court as a Democrat against her...
City Council: A Perfect Storm for Democratic Erosion
When it comes to the city council, how much do they do? What are the inner workings of a city’s council? What are the positions of the members of the city council? Are city councils even important?...