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.

History Repeats: Why Strong Global Defense is Key to Preventing Autocracy

A strong and consistent global defense by democratic nations is crucial to preventing the rise of autocratic regimes, as history shows—from the Cold War doctrines to the failed democratization of Afghanistan—that without committed follow-through and structural reform, authoritarian forces will exploit weaknesses and reclaim power.

Women in Political Dynasties: The Illusion of Choice and Democratic Erosion in the Philippines

Political dynasties have long controlled Philippine politics, with powerful families passing down leadership positions across generations. Despite the imposition of term limits discouraging dynastic rule, these families have found their way around the constitutional...

From Stardom to Senate: The Alarming Trend of Celebrity Politics in the Philippines

The intersection of celebrity and politics in the Philippines is nothing new. The phenomenon of celebrity politicians—actors, athletes, and other public figures who go from the big screen or stage to the corridors of power—has become a defining aspect of the country's...

Why the ATF’s Pistol Brace Ruling Hurts

Apr 10, 2023 | University of Utah

On the January 13th, 2023 the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives signed a new rule that could make millions of Americans felons overnight. Rule 2021R-08F...

The Isolation of Successful Immigrants by Isabel Canamary Otoch

Apr 10, 2023 | Rollins College

Why So Many Children of Immigrants Rise to the Top [1] by Peter Coy reflects on the findings of two economists, Professor Abramitzky and Professor Boustan, displayed in...

Money in Politics: The Effort to Revitalize the Mid-South Coliseum and Fairgrounds by Hanna McCarthy

Apr 4, 2020 | University of Memphis

*Photo by Toby Sells, Creative Commons Zero License On February 18, 2020 the Memphis City Council held a public meeting in which one significant agenda item was to discuss development plans for the...

The Populist Parties

Apr 4, 2020 | University of Memphis

The Recent Democratic Primary Debate in South Carolina and the success of Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden are showing signs that the Democratic Party is beginning to split between moderates and...

India’s actions in Kashmir: Backsliding in the World’s Largest Democracy

Apr 4, 2020 | Georgia State University

Courtesy of Kashmir Global Kashmir is one of the most militarized places on Earth, caught between two nuclear-armed powers. In recent years, unrest in India-administered Kashmir is frequent and has...

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee’s State of the State Address: The Heartbeat Bill Promotes Polarization

Apr 2, 2020 | University of Memphis

On Thursday, February 13, 2020, Tennessee’s Republican governor Bill Lee delivered his State of the State address for West Tennessee at Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee. While his address focused...

Have you ever been to a city council meeting?

Apr 2, 2020 | University of Memphis

The seat of government for an entire city considering the passage or failure of new ideas in a meeting that is open to the public…has an audience of 12-15 citizens? Sounds crazy, but it is true. To...

Vladimir Putin: A President for Life?

Apr 2, 2020 | Boston University

2024. The year Vladimir Putin is supposed to step down from power after more than two decades of serving as both President and Prime Minister. After rising to power in the 1990s as a...

Is America Experiencing Democratic Backsliding?

Mar 30, 2020 | Georgia State University

Trump’s presidency has been questioned by many since the beginning. However, it is the recent impeachment trial that has forced more and more people to ask the question if democracy is being...

Minority Parties Win Power, Not Inclusion, in Lithuania

Mar 30, 2020 | American University

In 2016, the populist Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union (LVŽS) took center stage in Lithuanian politics after unexpectedly winning a plurality in the legislative Seimas (Navickas 2017). The...

Gerrymandering – Democratic erosion from the bottom up?

Mar 29, 2020 | Georgia State University

Last summer, the supreme court refused to strike down the practice of partisan gerrymandering. While it is widely considered one of the least democratic aspects of the United States, it is also one...