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.

The Judicial Branch’s Downfall

By ruling with bias, the Judicial Branch is overstepping its constitutional role and threatening the integrity of our separation of powers and system of checks and balances.

Israel’s Judicial Reforms: A Potential Danger to Democracy?

Israel’s suggested judicial reforms pose a risk to democratic checks and balances by undermining the independence of the judiciary, centralizing executive authority, and potentially weakening democratic principles, similar to what has been observed in countries like Poland.

Arresting Opposition and Squashing Protests: Democratic Backsliding in Turkey Under Erdoğan

Turkey has been inching towards autocracy under Erdoğan and the AKP for the last 22 years.

Youth Stimulates Youth: The Importance of Youth Leadership

Nov 21, 2022 | Suffolk University

How often do you feel disengaged and confused by the current political sphere and agenda within the country? Many may even feel disgusted by the word politics itself. Don’t...

Why Iran’s Women Are Key to the Undoing of Democratic Erosion

Nov 20, 2022 | Skidmore College

The degradation of civil rights and freedoms within Iran has fallen primarily on women and is responsible for the recent unrest. A protest based on women’s grievances is...

Populism: Disease Or the Cure to Unresponsive Democracy?

Apr 22, 2019 | University of Chicago

By: Lukus Berber “The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer. Everyone is listening to you now”- President Donald Trump (01/20/2017) Taking the message straight to the...

Jair Bolsonaro has led Brazil into a Democratic Backslide by Eliana Durante

Apr 22, 2019 | Utah State University

This year Brazil has faced changes in their presidential system which has put the country at risk of a democratic backslide. The 2018 election led to a vote to Jair Bolsonaro. The right wing...

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...