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.

Trump vs. Media: The Never Ending Crusade

In advanced liberal democracies such as the United States, democratic erosion does not come in one fell swoop. Often, norms, checks and balances, and foundational features of democracy are gradually chipped away at as to lessen resistance, comparable to a frog being...

Donald Trump’s Trade Wars and Their Implications on US Vertical Accountability

Just recently Donald Trump visited Dayton, Ohio, a region which is defined by the prevalence of their manufacturing sector, and which has seen negative impacts from ever increasing US reliance on manufactured imports. As a result of the blowbacks from increased...

From Reformer to Authoritarian

How is Zambia’s Current President Showing Signs of Democratic Backsliding In Zambia, Election Day occurs on the 2nd Thursday of August every 5 years to elect the President and Vice President. To be elected president in Zambia, a candidate must receive more than 50% of...

The Persecution of ‘NAZA’ Filmmakers and Declining Press Freedom in Israel

Oct 9, 2026 | Boston University

NAZA is the Hebrew acronym used by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to code collateral damage: a quantifiable and ‘acceptable’ loss of civilian life yielded while targeting...

Fighting Fire with Fire: Why Poland’s Democratic Repair Is Stalling

Oct 9, 2026 | Boston University

When Donald Tusk became prime minister, after his coalition defeated the Law and Justice (PiS) party in 2023, the coalition promised the citizens to restore the rule of law....

How Algorithms Are Reshaping Political Reality

Apr 17, 2026 | Boston University

Democracy is often judged by whether a country holds elections, maintains courts, and allows political competition and debate. Yet in many modern political systems, these institutions continue to...

The Yadan Law and Its Potential Harm to Freedom of Expression in France

Apr 17, 2026 | Boston University

France’s Assemblée Nationale was set to debate an important bill for freedom of expression on April 16th. Though it was withdrawn before the debate, the government plans to introduce a similar law...

Bulgaria’s Democratic Backsliding and the Upcoming Election

Apr 17, 2026 | Boston University

Communist Bulgaria fell in 1989, being replaced by a democratic system with severe economic challenges and deep political reforms. In 2007, Bulgaria joined the EU hoping to strengthen democratic...

Hope for Canada: Democratic Resilience

Apr 17, 2026 | Boston University

Canada may be the shining hope of democratic resilience that the United States needs to see. In Canada’s most recent elections on Monday, Prime Minister Mark Carney, of the Liberal Party, gained a...

Podcasters Gone Rogue: MAGA “Soft-liners” Reveal Themselves

Apr 17, 2026 | Boston University

As the United States and Iran come to a tentative ceasefire, President Trump and former MAGA podcasters can’t seem to do the same. The Make America Great Again, or “MAGA” movement has always relied...

Trump vs. the Federal Reserve

Apr 17, 2026 | Boston University

Democratic erosion doesn’t happen suddenly, or even in the form of coups anymore; instead, it occurs through the gradual, internal erosion of institutions. Ozan Varol coined the term “stealth...

The SAVE America Act: Integrity or Erosion?

Apr 17, 2026 | Boston University

Debates about voting laws have a long history of being highly contested in American politics. While proposals claiming to secure democracy have risen, the question persists: Do these measures...

Democracy Fails, Market Follows

Apr 17, 2026 | Boston University

Democratic backsliding is often seen as a political problem, a phenomenon that manifests itself in elections, courts, or constitutions. But what if its effects reach well beyond the realm of...

Democratic Erosion in Turkey: Elections, Institutions, and Media Under Erdoğan

Apr 17, 2026 | Boston University

Turkey, once hailed as a model of democracy for its neighbors, has experienced a steady democratic decline over more than two decades of rule by President Erdoğan and the AKP (Justice and...