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.

Donald Trump the Nazi Reincarnate?: Godwin’s Law and How This Phenomenon is Counterproductive to Understanding Democratic Erosion

What do we hope to accomplish when comparing President Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler, a tyrannical perpetrator of genocide?

The Russia-Ukraine War Bodes Poorly for Democracy, But Not in the Way You Think

The Russia-Ukraine War is a serious threat to global democracy through the growing wave of isolationism in the United States, an entity that has typically been at the forefront of fighting authoritarianism across the world.

The Trump Administration’s Attack on USAID

The Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle USAID, increase concerns about democratic backsliding as it could result in a trend with the executive undermining institutional legitimacy.

Taxation Without Representation: The 51st State

Oct 17, 2022 | Boston University

“Taxation without representation,” is not just some catchy slogan plastered across license plates. It is the reality for nearly 700,000 Americans currently living in the...

Flashy News & Politics Killing Democracy

Oct 17, 2022 | Boston University

In the modern world of the twenty-four-hour news cycle, the ever-rising importance of media, and the chase for viewers, news outlets are always looking for the...

South Korea is Headed Toward Democracy One Impeachment at a Time by Kyle Hewitt

Apr 22, 2019 | Sacramento State University

South Korea has been battling for democracy in their country since the late 1940s and has seen progressive movements toward a more democratic state. More recently South Korea has experienced a...

Government Shutdowns, Public Opinion, and “Near Misses”

Apr 22, 2019 | Utah State University

A few months ago, the United States experienced its longest government shutdown in history. Shutting down for 34 days starting December 2019, the federal government rocketed past the previous...

Violence, Fraud and Inaccuracies Continue to Plague Nigeria’s Elections by Jordan Reid

Apr 22, 2019 | Utah State University

Since regaining its democracy in 1999, Nigeria has suffered a history of voter fraud and violence in each of its presidential elections. Improving the safety and legitimacy of Nigeria's elections...

Keeping an Eye on Attacks Against Press Freedom by Radhika Upadhye

Apr 22, 2019 | University of Chicago

This coming Tuesday, the Supreme Court of Myanmar is set to make a final decision on a case concerning two Reuters journalists who have been detained in the country since December of 2017. Wa Lone...

Democratic Erosion at the local level by Spencer Goodson

Apr 22, 2019 | Georgia State University

My blog post regards instances I saw that mimicked Democratic erosion at the Federal Level, on the local level during my political event....

Stealth Authoritarianism in the Bureaucracy: Prosecution of Wikileaks Threatens Democratic Norms

Apr 22, 2019 | University of Chicago

"Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people, who have a right . . . and a desire to know . . . the characters and conduct of their rulers.” – President John Adams [1]...

Who Counts As American? The Citizenship Question and the Census by Meghan Ward

Apr 22, 2019 | University of Chicago

In politics, the year 2020 is mostly talked about in relation to the presidential election. However, another important event for American democracy will happen that year and is stirring up its own...

The Mueller Report and Republican Gatekeeping by Kenjiro Lee

Apr 22, 2019 | University of Chicago

When it comes to Donald Trump, Republican gatekeeping has been somewhat lacking. Despite sexual assault allegations, racist rhetoric that made party members squirm, and a clear reluctance to accept...

Newton’s Third Law: Populism and Democracy by Selena Spencer

Apr 22, 2019 | University of Chicago

Populism as the equal and opposite reaction to American Democracy. Internationally populists and the populism are seen as generally undemocratic. The term populist itself is so broad it can...