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.

The Judicial Branch’s Downfall

By ruling with bias, the Judicial Branch is overstepping its constitutional role and threatening the integrity of our separation of powers and system of checks and balances.

Israel’s Judicial Reforms: A Potential Danger to Democracy?

Israel’s suggested judicial reforms pose a risk to democratic checks and balances by undermining the independence of the judiciary, centralizing executive authority, and potentially weakening democratic principles, similar to what has been observed in countries like Poland.

Arresting Opposition and Squashing Protests: Democratic Backsliding in Turkey Under Erdoğan

Turkey has been inching towards autocracy under Erdoğan and the AKP for the last 22 years.

Ortega’s Obstruction of Fair Process in Nicaragua

Dec 4, 2022 | SUNY-Binghamton

Nicaragua is a coastal country in Central America founded in 1821 after gaining independence from Spain,...

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...

Instances of Democratic Backsliding in Bolivia Paint a Grim Outlook for the Future of the Country’s Democracy by Amanda Stewart

Dec 15, 2019 | Georgia State University

Evo Morales has taken great strides in improving Bolivia’s economy, dismantling poverty, and improving the lives of many indigenous Bolivians. Why, then, has Morales become the latest victim of a...

Nicaragua- Democratic Backsliding by Delanee Rogers

Dec 15, 2019 | Georgia State University

Nancy Bermeo states that “we now face forms of democratic backsliding that are legitimated through the very institutions that democracy promoters have prioritized: national elections, voting...

Democratic Backsliding in Bolivia

Dec 15, 2019 | Georgia State University

Bolivia is a Presidential Republican governmental state. In 2005, Bolivia moved toward socialism by electing Evo Morales as president. He ran on a promise to change the traditional political class...

The Demise of Hungary and America’s Democracy by Isaiah Washington

Dec 15, 2019 | Georgia State University

The Demise of Hungary and America’s Democracy Hungary is experiencing a democratic erosion and the world needs to be put on notice....

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...