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.

Democracy’s Last Stand in the Middle East: Kais Saied’s Tunisia

Nov 25, 2022 | Boston University

The 2010 revolution in Tunisia did more than just birth the Arab Spring, it birthed democracy for the first time in the country’s history. Previously under Ottoman and...

Populism and Its Consequences: Democratic Backsliding and Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Nov 24, 2022 | Boston University

In 1947 India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru spoke of freedom and democracy, marking the transition away from English colonialism. Three years later India's...

Democratic Erosion in Lebanon by Ibony Mejia

Dec 15, 2019 | Georgia State University

Civil wars occur in many, if not, all countries. In many of these countries, civil wars continue for years or just never get solved. Lebanon’s civil war is an excellent example of an unsolved war...

BE WATER: Flow with the [modern] Art of War

Dec 11, 2019 | University of the Philippines, Diliman

“Be water, my friend”, FLOW – the famous saying associated to the late martial arts icon Bruce Lee. – A “formless” protest, became the “mantra” of young Hong Kong protesters. An unprecedented...

HONGKONG IN-TRANSIT: Ground Works for post-1997 Democratic Prospects

Dec 11, 2019 | University of the Philippines, Diliman

The lowering of the United Kingdom and Great Britain Flag over Hong Kong on the 1st of July 1997 marked the end of a colonial era and embarked the return to mainland [China], after 150 years of...

Democracy as a Privilege

Dec 11, 2019 | University of the Philippines, Diliman

For years, there have been successful attempts to erode a democracy. In Argentina, Juan Peron helped lead a successful coup for two and a half years before making his bid for presidency. Augusto...

The Popularity of Lula and Unpopularity of Bolsonaro

Dec 11, 2019 | University of the Philippines, Diliman

On November 8, 2019, Former Brazilian President Luis Ignacio Lula da Silva was released from prison after the latest ruling from the Brazilian Supreme Federal Tribunal that reverses its position to...

Trump & Twitter

Dec 10, 2019 | Salem State University

President Trump’s “Tweet First and Question Later” strategy is nothing new, but earlier this month Trump was on twitter during his own impeachment inquiry. Trump wasn’t in the building, for the...

What’s next for Bolivia after Morales’ resignation?

Dec 10, 2019 | University of the Philippines, Diliman

The news on Evo Morales’ resignation came as a surprise. With his tight hold of the power in the past 14 years as he ruled Bolivia, it raises the question on why he would suddenly resign? His vice...

Modi annexed Jammu and Kashmir, is it a bold move towards authoritarianism?

Dec 10, 2019 | University of the Philippines, Diliman

“Democracies may die at the hands not of generals but of elected leaders — presidents or prime ministers who subvert the very process that brought them to power” were the strong words of Steven...

Indigenous Struggles: A Shortfall of Philippine Democracy

Dec 9, 2019 | University of the Philippines, Diliman

The Philippines opened the 30th Southeast Asian Games this year with a performance celebrating the country’s indigenous cultures. A day earlier, indigenous Aeta communities were given a notice...