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.

Recent Election Leaves Brazil in Polarized State

Dec 10, 2022 | SUNY-Binghamton

https://globalvoices.org/2022/11/21/how-football-and-politics-are-intertwined-in-a-polarized-post-election-brazil/ The most recent Brazilian presidential election between...

The Invasion of Ukraine: A Crisis Magnifies a Larger Issue of Internal Instability and Corruption

Dec 9, 2022 | Suffolk University

Ukraine is facing a Constitutional Court and corruption crisis that will impact its ability to recover from the devastation to democratic sovereignty caused by Russia’s...

Netanyahu’s Saviour: CoViD-19?

Apr 22, 2020 | Bilkent University

Aspiring autocrats do not necessarily need to seek out ways to legitimise their attacks on the institutions of democracy, such as free media, checks and balances, and civil society. Sometimes, such...

Trump Temporarily Banning Immigration: Is COVID-19 His True Motive?

Apr 21, 2020 | Suffolk University

On April 21st, President Trump announced in a press conference a temporary ban on immigration into the United States as a way to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Although this will only apply to...

How do you host a town hall while following social distancing guidelines?

Apr 21, 2020 | Suffolk University

Being viral is something that in the 21st century is natural and common. The Internet and social media culture have overtaken the way we act and communicate with people all over the world. However,...

What are our local governments doing to help citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Apr 21, 2020 | Suffolk University

While the global pandemic caused by the Coronavirus has impacted people everywhere across the globe, the United States has been hit especially hard. With nearly 800,000 cases and 39,000 deaths in...

The Importance of Political Accessibility and Communication Exposed by a Health Crisis

Apr 21, 2020 | Suffolk University

Since the spread of the novel coronavirus throughout the globe, almost all countries are facing a health crisis at a level where they can hardly cope with it. The global pandemic occurring at this...

Can Liberian Democracy Survive the Coronavirus?

Apr 20, 2020 | American University

Riot Police respond to protests against foreign businesses, which were exempt from forced market closures. In the developed world, the Coronavirus pandemic has destabilized society and threatens to...

The Death of Brazilian Democracy, 20 years in the Making

Apr 20, 2020 | Georgia State University

In 2014, the Brazilian government began an investigation into possible corruption involving its state-run petroleum firm, Petrobras. The allegations involved potential money laundering and bribery...

Protecting Health Care and First Responder Hero’s. What about the Homeless Citizen?

Apr 19, 2020 | Suffolk University

In a time of crisis, it truthfully shows how we all take care of our own. In the midst of a disaster, panic often causes hysteria among a group of individuals. This said disaster is COVID-19, first...

How can Americans Know How to Flatten the Curve When the Experts are so Inconsistent?

Apr 19, 2020 | Suffolk University

This unprecedented Coronavirus pandemic has caused the world to abandon life as they know it and adapt to new norms. Physical distancing, which prohibits hanging out in groups, has become the new...