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.

This Musk Be a Joke

Dec 4, 2022 | SUNY-Binghamton

“Elon Musk he’s such a f***ing moron” (Conover, 2022) said Adam Conover in relation to Elon Musk on the Trillionaire Pod, a podcast. Elon Musk who recently bought Twitter in...

How Conspiracy Theories Helped Putin Secure Power

Dec 4, 2022 | SUNY-Binghamton

Since Vladimir Putin has had his hand in Russian politics, he has peddled in conspiratorial thinking to help himself gain support and power within his country and the world....

Coronavirus: The Threat of Democratic Erosion in A Global Pandemic

Apr 8, 2020 | Boston University

The current global pandemic has undoubtedly wreaked havoc on democracies throughout the world, as governments attempt to balance legislative powers with mitigation policies. As the death rate in...

Russia Coronavirus Measures and Their Effect On Its Shaky Democracy

Apr 8, 2020 | Boston University

The human rights situation in modern Russia has been extremely rocky since Putin first took power as president. Today, the coronavirus pandemic has given Putin and his administration a new weapon to...

What Abortion Access During COVID-19 Tells Us About Stealth Authoritarianism

Apr 8, 2020 | Boston University

The COVID-19 epidemic has pulled parts of America’s healthcare system to the brink of collapse. Hospitals in hard-hit areas are reaching capacity as emergency rooms fill with patients, available ICU...

Still Questionable: Mexico on the Mend?

Apr 8, 2020 | Boston University

Mexico is widely regarded as a democratic state in constant disarray. Though it has been historically a pluralist system, it hasn't quite harnessed a party based beneficiary of the people. It's...

Sanders’s Exit from the Democratic Primary HIghlights Flaws in US Primary System

Apr 8, 2020 | Boston University

With the suspension of Bernie Sanders’ campaign today, Joe Biden is the 2020 Democratic presidential nominee. Whatever your personal views on it, this result highlights a major flaw in the US...

A Threat or Aid to U.S. Populism? Covid-19.

Apr 8, 2020 | Boston University

By Casey Pupek (Source: https://www.livescience.com/topics/live/coronavirus-live-updates) First recognized as an “unknown pneumonia” in Central China, Covid-19 quickly spread throughout the...

Pandemic Elections

Apr 8, 2020 | Boston University

COVID-19 has upended the basic functions of life in the U.S.. While healthcare and businesses experienced the initial disruptions that the virus brought, the elections are quickly falling into...

Electoral Maneuvering in Wisconsin during the COVID-19 Public Health Crisis

Apr 8, 2020 | Boston University

The novel coronavirus is now a significant concern within all fifty states. Critically, this public health crisis has struck during an election year, wrecking havoc near the middle of primary...

Electoral Malfunctions, Cancellation, and Protests: The Case of the Dominican Republic

Apr 8, 2020 | Boston University

On February 16th, a few hours after the polls opened for municipal elections in the Dominican Republic, voting machine malfunctions caused the election to be called off. The voting machines left...