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.

Why Democracy Declined in Turkey: The Role of Polarization

This post explains how pernicious polarization became a key driver of democratic erosion in Turkey by weakening institutions, increasing distrust, and making political cooperation difficult.

A Democracy in Costume

Venezuela still holds elections, but they stopped meaning anything a long time ago.

The Zambian Plot Twist: Citizens who beat dictatorship in the mask of law

It explores how Zambian citizens successfully unmasked ‘stealth authoritarianism’ and restored democracy through strategic participation in the 2021 election.

Abortion Rights Are Fundamental to Democracy. Why Do Democracies Ban It?

Oct 9, 2024 | Brown University

In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, concluding that the U.S. Constitution does not provide federal protections for a woman’s right to choose. But in...

The Threat of JD Vance’s Populism to the Future of America

Oct 9, 2024 | Brown University

JD Vance has been called many things by many people since he was announced as Donald Trump’s Vice Presidential running mate three months ago. He is conservative and...

Executive Aggrandizement in the Time of COVID-19

Oct 23, 2020 | University of Chicago

Since the start of 2020, the COVID-19 virus has rapidly enveloped the world, creating crises across nations. For many governments, crises offer the perfect environment for aspiring autocrats to...

Revolutions in Belarus: A New Strategy for Fighting New Authoritarians?

Oct 23, 2020 | University of Chicago

On August 8, 2020, Belarusians flocked to the polls to vote in their most contested presidential election since 1994. Going into the election, the incumbent, Alexander Lukashenka received a torrent...

Polarization in the Media

Oct 23, 2020 | University of Chicago

Many US citizens currently live in the era of slanted media. Citizens question the legitimacy of the US government and opposing parties, and this has caused the quality of democracy to decline. The...

International Trade: The Looming Executive

Oct 23, 2020 | University of Chicago

In 2016, the election of Donald Trump heralded in an age of unprecedented domestic anxiety. The electorate was bitterly divided between the perception of the president as the downfall and the savior...

Why Gerrymandering Is a Danger to American Democracy

Oct 23, 2020 | University of Chicago

On June 27, 2019, the US Supreme Court gave its ruling on two significant cases called Lamone v. Benisek and Rucho v. Common Cause. The reason why I am linking these two Supreme Court cases together...

Interference at the Ballot Box: Why Voter Suppression Isn’t Just a Swing State Problem

Oct 23, 2020 | University of Chicago

News stories on voter suppression have been a common sight during this election cycle. In early October, Texas governor Greg Abbott (R) ordered that each county will have only one ballot drop box...

Tipping the Scales: The Judicial System as an Inadequate Safeguard Against Democratic Erosion

Oct 23, 2020 | University of Chicago

All eyes are on Amy Coney Barrett and Congress this week as the Senate prepares to confirm a Supreme Court justice just days before the election. This would be the third Trump SCOTUS nominee to...

“Court-Packing” and Saving American Democracy

Oct 23, 2020 | University of Chicago

On December 21, 2018, news organizations ran abuzz with a bomb report — Ruth Bader Ginsburg had been re-diagnosed with cancer. The BBC published this headline: Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Liberal America...

Threats to the Judiciary in the United States: Looking Beyond the Executive

Oct 23, 2020 | University of Chicago

Despite not having grown up in the US, for virtually all my life I’ve heard about the robustness of American democracy, including –...