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.

Modern Day Scarlet Letter: Women in Afghanistan Being Shamed for Mens’ Actions

Women in Afghanistan are stuck under the oppressive Tabilan rule. After the 2021, United States withdraw from the country, there has been grave crimes against womne. Gulnaz, a young girl from Afghanistan, has a tragic story but her story does not stand alone. We must speak for these women who cannot. They cannot be forgotten.

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South Africa’s Democracy Isn’t Collapsing, It’s Quietly Eroding

South Africa’s democracy remains intact on paper, but corruption, governance failures, and declining public trust reveal how democratic erosion can quietly unfold when both political elites weaken institutions and citizens lose faith in democracy’s ability to deliver real change.

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Identity Survival Amongst Democratically Eroded Ethno-Religious Conflicts

When politics between religious governments turn into a contest for identity survival, democracy institutions stop being referees and start becoming weapons.

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Israel, A Democracy?

Feb 13, 2026 |

Israel is frequently described as “the only democracy in the Middle East,” yet when evaluated through the lens of democratic theory, this claim is quite absurd. Israel should not and have never been...

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