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.

Donald Trump’s NSPM-7 Follows Domestic and International Trends In Stealth Authoritarian Power Grabs

President Donald Trump’s recent National Security Memorandum dramatically expands his ability to persecute political enemies, following a trend of erosion of democratic rule that mirrors other developments in U.S politics directed by the president and his supporters.

How Bosnia’s Postwar Framework Made Dodik Inevitable

Nearly thirty years after Dayton, Bosnia’s power-sharing system continues to institutionalize the very divisions it promised to resolve.

The Trump Administration’s Recent Attacks on First Amendment Rights May Mirror Viktor Orban’s Autocratic Ruling Style

Similarities between Donald Trump and Viktor Orban’s populist leadership styles may have dangerous ramifications for the health of the United States’ democracy.

Turkey’s New “Media Disinformation Law” is a Threat to democracy

Jan 5, 2023 | Sabanci University

Turkey has recently enacted a new law on media disinformation, which has sparked widespread concern and criticism from human rights organizations, media freedom advocates,...

Hungary: From Championship of Democratization to Hybrid Regime of Electoral Autocracy

Jan 5, 2023 | Sabanci University

Once described as the champion of the third wave of democratization in Europe, Hungary has become a pioneer of democratic backsliding. The concept of democratic backsliding...

Moving forward together

Nov 2, 2019 | University of Memphis

I was able to attend to Erica's Sugarmon campaign talk, from there I learned that Erica could be the solution for Memphis issues on crimes, poverty and specially on education as well.Â She is...

Local Politics Trumps Pop Politics

Oct 29, 2019 | University of Memphis

The Importance of Local Representation As the U.S. continues to embrace the spectacles of political performances on the biggest stages of American politics, it is important to remind ourselves of...

MATA: A Brighter Future Costs Money

Oct 28, 2019 | University of Memphis

The Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) is the public transportation provided in Memphis, Tennessee. The system was founded in 1975 to help serve the Greater Mid-south. September 25, 2019, Jim...

How Does Women’s Political Participation Affect Democracy?

Oct 27, 2019 | University of Memphis

The political event I attended related to how sex shapes governance in the world, but I particularly focused on the United States and how women were involved in politics. From the colonial period,...

Elections Are Coming

Oct 27, 2019 | University of Memphis

The school district in my county has been a ripe source of conflict as of late. The district is predominantly failing, with the exception of one or two upper class predominately white schools. The...

Climate Change, Performance, and Soft Democratic Breakdown

Oct 27, 2019 | University of Memphis

My event related to global democracy is best described as a relatively small part of a large movement. Namely, the Memphis portion of the Global Climate Strike, which kicked off on September 20th...

Democratic Town Hall on LGBTQ Rights: Real Possibilities or a Bunch of Boloney?

Oct 27, 2019 | University of Memphis

Source: CNN During Friday Follies, Fox News Laura Ingraham describes the Democratic town hall on LGBTQ rights from the previous night as an event of shameless pandering by Democrats to the social...

Will International Trade Affect the United States Democracy?

Oct 26, 2019 | University of Memphis

International Trade regarding United States Democracy There is nothing new that China plays a huge role with the United States when it comes to World Trade. There is still struggle when it comes to...

Definitely No Deal for Brexit?

Oct 26, 2019 | Salem State University

Finally, the deadline for Brexit is approaching, and time is running out for the UK and the European Union to come to terms with a deal to smoothly transition. The probability of such a deal...