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 blogs reflect the views of the student authors, and not those of the Democratic Erosion Consortium.

Flip a Coin: Voting in the United States of America

Voting in the United States of America is portrayed as the foundation of the world's greatest democracy, the ultimate freedom amongst an endless list of freedoms. But this century has seen a shadow of doubt thrown upon the idea of voting as the outcomes and processes...

The Invisible Line: El Salvador in the Gray Zone between Democracy and Dictatorship

Stealth authoritarianism is the process in which political elites gradually erode democratic systems not through overt force but by manipulation of the public’s fear. In this context, El Salvador has appeared as a representative example. By emphasizing crime reduction...

The Quiet Death of Democracy: Benin

Benin was once West Africa’s democratic model — now it’s a warning for every democracy that mistakes elections for accountability.

Before the Ballot Arrives: Trump’s Mail Voting Order and the Capture of Election Infrastructure

Apr 19, 2026 | Suffolk University

By March 24th, Donald Trump had voted by mail in a special election to fill a seat in Florida’s lower chamber. A week later, he signed an executive order directing the...

Popularity Doesn’t Equal Democracy: A Look Into El Salvador’s Puzzle

Apr 19, 2026 | Boston University

Since President Nayib Bukele took office in 2019, El Salvador has undermined norms by changing the constitution, branches of government, and civil rights. While this...

ICE and the Narrowing of Pluralism

Feb 13, 2026 | Boston University

The expansion of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement under Donald Trump’s second term reflects anti-pluralism moving from rhetoric into institutional form. The Senate’s immigration bill...

A Seemingly Controversial 15 Minutes

Feb 13, 2026 | Boston University

Every February, a football team earns the right to call itself “world champions” by winning the Super Bowl. However, one of the most exciting aspects of the night, aside from the 60-minute gameplay...

Tunisia Under Saied: The Unraveling of the Arab Spring’s Lone Success Story

Feb 12, 2026 | Boston University, Featured

On January 31, 2026, Tunisian President Kais Saied extended the country’s state of emergency once more, now marking ten consecutive years of its being in effect. While he initially framed this as a...

The Democratic Breakdown of Benin: Extremist Groups, Counterterrorism, and Executive Stealth Authoritarianism

Feb 12, 2026 | Boston University, Uncategorized

Sub-Saharan Africa is largely autocratic, with only about 10% of the region considered to be democratic. Benin, one of the only five democracies, is now sliding down a path of authoritarianism. On...

How President Trump is initiating Democratic backsliding to assert his dominance

Feb 12, 2026 | Boston University

Recently, the United States, under the guidance and control of President Trump’s administration, is at risk of a threat to democracy as he exercises abusive executive power and politicizes...

The Trump Administration’s Aggressive Rejection of Dissent Threatens Democracy

Feb 12, 2026 | Boston University

As the Trump administration enters its second year, Trump continues to push his strategy of executive aggrandizement, reducing institutions independence and eliminating competition. The...

Fifteen Years After the Jasmine Revolution: Is Democracy in Tunisia Backsliding?

Feb 12, 2026 | Boston University

On January 14, 2026, Tunisia celebrated 15 years since it ousted authoritarian leader Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. The Jasmine Revolution, named after the country’s national flower, was the catalyst for...

Funding Backsliding: How Hungary Tests the Limits of EU Democratic Enforcement

Feb 12, 2026 | Boston University

The European Union recently froze 10 billion euros in payments to Hungary, over concern that the Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, had failed to carry out promised judicial reforms. In 2022, the...

ANO 2011, Andrej Babiš, and Implications of the Fall 2025 Election on Czech Democracy

Feb 12, 2026 | Boston University

On October 3 and 4, 2025, the Czech Republic held its quadrennial Chamber of Deputies (Lower house of Parliament) election, which resulted in a decisive victory for ANO 2011, a right-wing populist...