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 are student blog posts written by student participants in the Democratic Erosion Course. These posts were not written by nor represent the views of the Democratic Erosion Consortium.

Food Security is Rooted Abroad

Global fertilizer supply chains connect geopolitical events abroad to food production at home in ways most consumers don’t see.

The Meaning of Silence : What the moment of silence for Melissa Hortman says about American democracy

On June 14, 2025, the lives of Melissa Hortman who was a House speaker in Minnesota and her husband Mark were taken in what authorities believe to be a politically motivated act of violence. The same day Senator John Hoffman and his wife were also shot and...

Buying Injustice: The Hidden Harms of this Act.

Are we looking to create a thriving society, or are we allowing fear into the lives of immigrant families? As new immigration policies appear, the question become, how do we prevent the changes that involve separating families and dismantling the place that...

Cash for Votes: How Pervasive Clientelism Undermines India’s Democracy

Dec 4, 2024 | Brown University

“All elected leaders buy votes. Even children know that” (NPR). This is how governance in India is viewed by many of its citizens: a system that is democratic in name, with...

What can the Balon D’or tell us about Democratic Erosion?

Dec 4, 2024 | Brown University

Unforgettable robbery! Corruption! Undeserved! Are these comments from the recent US Presidential Election? No, they are reactions to the announcement of the most important...

Hope for Youth Voter Turnout in Future Elections

Oct 18, 2020 | Suffolk University

It is widely known that there is low voter turnout among those in younger age ranges, particularly those between 18 and 24. Through working as a Suffolks Votes Ambassador I was able to interact with...

A Peaceful Transfer of Power and the American People’s Concern for Their Election’s Security

Oct 18, 2020 | University of Georgia

The United States has faced an arguably unprecedented combination of factors, both domestic and international, throughout 2020 that have created the present day political climate that will shape the...

1865 Oppression or 2020 Suppression?

Oct 18, 2020 | Suffolk University

Right to Vote I must warn you that this is my very first time writing and posting a blog. This personal style or type of opinion, I have recently learned is the main form of expression found on many...

The Civil Unrest That Lays Silently With Breonna Taylor

Oct 18, 2020 | Suffolk University

For a span of more than five months, riled up supporters and mourners of Breanna Taylor were anticipating that on September 24th, 2020, the three cops of the Louisville Metro Police Department ...

The World’s Largest Democracy in Decline? The Threat of Hindu Nationalism in Modi’s India

Oct 18, 2020 | University of Georgia

Mob violence and mass rioting engulfed New Delhi earlier this year, with images of defenseless Indian Muslims beaten in the streets; their faces bloodied, their businesses and homes turned to ash....

Every Vote Matters

Oct 18, 2020 | Suffolk University

These days, fall 2020, if you take a walk around downtown Boston, you’ll see that every store, café or restaurant has a poster, sticker, or an entire booklet with the word “vote” on it. When...

What Causes Racism Still Exists

Oct 18, 2020 | Suffolk University

October 17, 2020 by Surochinee Santiwisak On Wednesday, September 30, 2020, a zoom conference began around 7 p.m. hosted by Professors Pamela Newkirk and Deborah Willis of New York University. The...

Don’t Panic: Voting in a Pandemic

Oct 18, 2020 | Suffolk University

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a magnitude of unforeseen challenges to the 2020 Presidential election. With a majority of the nation still concerned for their safety, voting this year looks far...

Miscommunication: The Downfall of American Democracy

Oct 18, 2020 | Suffolk University

A few weeks ago, I was honored to have been a viewer of “America’s Divided Mind: Understanding the Psychology that Drives Us Apart”. This panel of experts raised a great deal of important ideas...