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.

Long Term Effects of the “Secret Club” Scandal

The "Secret Club” Scandal, often referred to as the "Slovenska" affair, shocked Croatian society and uncovered deep seated corruption that goes all the way to the top. During strict COVID-19 lockdowns, when ordinary citizens faced heavy restrictions, prominent...

Analyzing the 2024 Mexican Judicial Reforms

In 2024, the then-President of Mexico, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, passed a sweeping overhaul of the judiciary in Mexico. The 2024 judicial reforms introduced a dramatic overhaul of Mexico’s judicial system, eroding judicial independence and reducing the Supreme...

Flip a Coin: Voting in the United States of America

Voting in the United States of America is portrayed as the foundation of the world's greatest democracy, the ultimate freedom amongst an endless list of freedoms. But this century has seen a shadow of doubt thrown upon the idea of voting as the outcomes and processes...

Is This The New Normal?

Apr 19, 2026 | Suffolk University

The President of The United States threatened genocide in the Middle East over a social media post. This is not an exaggeration nor a bizarre example of being hacked. The...

Why Elections Alone Do Not Make the Philippines Democratic

Apr 19, 2026 | George Mason University

Why Elections Alone Do Not Make the Philippines Democratic The Philippines holds elections every six years. All citizens have the right to vote, leaders are changed by the...

Indefinite Term Limits: How Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele is Further Entrenching His Power

Dec 10, 2025 | University of Pittsburgh

On July 31st, 2025, El Salvador’s Legislative Assembly passed a new constitutional amendment 57 to three votes to allow the current president, Nayib Bukele, to run for a third term. The amendment...

A 50-Year Sentence for Facebook Posts: The Implications of Section 112

Dec 9, 2025 | University of Pittsburgh

In January 2025, a 30-year-old man from Chiang Rai, Thailand, Mongkol Thirakot, was sentenced to 50 years in prison after being accused of posting 27 Facebook posts related to Thailand’s monarchy....

When the Army Said No: How Military Defection Toppled Bangladesh’s Autocrat

Dec 8, 2025 | University of Pittsburgh

On the night of August 4, 2024, Bangladesh’s army chief held an emergency video conference with his generals. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had ordered troops to enforce a curfew and suppress the...

The BJP’s Influence on Democratic Backsliding

Dec 7, 2025 | University of Pittsburgh

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is the largest in India and has been for the past 30 years. The BJP’s core philosophy emphasized Indian identity as a Hindu majority nation. However, the BJP in...

Drawing the Line in Law: How India’s CAA Turns Citizenship into a Religious Test

Dec 5, 2025 | University of Georgia

India's Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) exemplifies how the application of a supposedly technical citizenship law can subvert the democratic boundaries between "citizens" and "non-citizens." By...

Backsliding or Normalization? What is Driving the Changes to Chilean Voting Laws

Dec 5, 2025 | University of Georgia

In September of 2025, just months before the presidential election, two contentious reforms were passed to change voting laws in Chile to curb the voting capacity and the obligation to vote for...

Democracy and the Press: Netanyahu’s Threat to Media Freedom

Dec 5, 2025 | University of Georgia

Israeli Government Structure Israel has a parliamentary democracy with a unicameral legislature, known as the Knesset, where citizens elect political parties rather than individuals. This system is...

Hungary’s 2024 Protests and Elections: Populism VS Oligarchy

Dec 2, 2025 | University of Pittsburgh

Intro In the last two years, Hungary has seen an influx of worker-led protests, even as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán maintained tight control over politics and the media. From 2023 to 2024,...

Corruption vs. The Fight for Democratic Resilience: The Threat of Ukraine’s Corruption Scandal to EU Membership and Democratic Integrity

Dec 1, 2025 | Northeastern University

On Monday, November 10th, Ukrainian anti-corruption agencies revealed that several of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s long-time associates and other members of the government were allegedly involved...