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.

The Return of the Taliban to Afghanistan

Dec 11, 2022 | Suffolk University

In 1996, The Taliban emerged as the leader of Afghanistan after storming Kabul and overthrowing the Soviet-Backed president, Muhammed Najibullah. They rose to power under...

Polarizing Protests: Bolsonaro’s Defeat in Brazil

Dec 11, 2022 | Skidmore College

Three years ago, former President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva, stood behind bars, with his best years seemingly behind him. After being released in 2019 due...

A response: Online Surveillance and How it Degrades Democracy by Elena Hoang

Apr 24, 2020 | Rollins College

In their opinion piece, “How Your Phone Betrays Democracy”, on The New York Times, Charlie Warzel and Stuart Thompson examine how our extensive use of technology can threaten our country’s...

Will Covid-19 Be The End of Trump?

Apr 24, 2020 | Rollins College

In analyzing the effects of COVID-19 upon the nation, one thing is clear to economists: the virus has only exacerbated preexisting inequality. Class divides in America are widening—how will this...

The End of the Israeli Election Boom by Rahmat Rashid

Apr 24, 2020 | Rollins College

On April 20th, 2020, a large step was taken by the two major political parties in Israel, a step towards ending the highly polarized series of elections that Israeli citizens had to face over the...

Risking our Lives for Donald Trump’s Benefit

Apr 23, 2020 | Rollins College

There is no doubt that the coronavirus has severely altered the course of our day to day lives. Whether the pandemic has impacted us in the loss of a friend or family member or simply has us forced...

Republican Efforts to Inhibit Democratic Voters

Apr 23, 2020 | Rollins College

The Coronavirus outbreak has devastatingly shocked our nation, causing the economy to temporarily shut down, sending students home from their designated universities, raising unemployment to...

When The Pen Fails: The Macedonian Conflict of 2001

Apr 23, 2020 | Georgia State University

Image retrieved form: https://www.istockphoto.com/il/video/4k-macedonia-flag-crisis-war-fire-gm1019157286-273912350 The Country of Macedonia, now North Macedonia following a name dispute with...

The Right’s Latest Strategy to Divide America is Failing

Apr 23, 2020 | Rollins College

The recent series of rallies protesting social distancing measures across the country have attracted the attention of countless media outlets. The rallies, which are reminiscent of the Tea Party...

The Exemplification of Democratic Erosion Through Coronavirus Protests by Sydney Knight

Apr 22, 2020 | Rollins College

It is no exaggeration to say that the impact of the coronavirus has rattled the United States. As of April 22, 2020, there have been over 800,00 cases of coronavirus in America and over 40,000...

Disengaged; in the midst of an international crisis, how can teenagers be expected to learn?

Apr 22, 2020 | Suffolk University

On March 16th, more than 90% of California schools closed their doors due to the Coronavirus. The same day, most cities mandated shelter-in-place orders and families were scrambling to find a...