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 are student blog posts written by student participants in the Democratic Erosion Course. These posts were not written by nor represent the views of the Democratic Erosion Consortium.

Food Security is Rooted Abroad

Global fertilizer supply chains connect geopolitical events abroad to food production at home in ways most consumers don’t see.

The Meaning of Silence : What the moment of silence for Melissa Hortman says about American democracy

On June 14, 2025, the lives of Melissa Hortman who was a House speaker in Minnesota and her husband Mark were taken in what authorities believe to be a politically motivated act of violence. The same day Senator John Hoffman and his wife were also shot and...

The New Future of Warfare? How Social Media is Inflating Tensions Between the U.S. and Iran.

Social media is moving to the forefront of the ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran, with political elites from both sides of the conflict using social media as a weapon to fabricate narratives and generate AI videos to publicly denounce the actions of one...

Panic at the Polls: How the Words of a Leader Changed How Americans View Their Elections

Sep 13, 2024 | Ohio State University

An “I Voted” sticker is seen as a badge of honor. A symbol of one’s dedication to their country and its future leaders. A sign that someone has actively participated in...

Is Democratic Erosion a Threat in the 2024 U.S. Election?

Sep 13, 2024 | Ohio State University

As we start the 2024 United States election cycle, campaign commercials, political slander, and discussions about immigration, healthcare, and taxation are all common....

Is Human Trafficking a Big Problem in the U.S.? It depends on who you ask.

Mar 5, 2020 | Suffolk University

There are many different crimes than fall under the Human Trafficking umbrella that most people wouldn’t even consider. One of the most common misconceptions about trafficking is that the majority...

It is Now or Never: The Drive Gen-X and Millenials are Taking to Change the Course of our Nation’s History.

Mar 5, 2020 | Suffolk University

Today’s political climate must be one of the most unpredictable of its kind. Democrats and Republicans have been found to have little to no trust in each...

Is Democracy Becoming a Victim of its Own Success?

Mar 5, 2020 | Suffolk University

Reckless partisanship and the rise of populism have left some wondering if democracy took a wrong turn somewhere. Others are left hoping and believing that democracy evolves through cycles of...

Flip-Flops: Good for Beaches, Not Good For Politicians Legitimacy

Mar 5, 2020 | Suffolk University

Republican Presidential Candidate Bill Weld at UMass Boston “Let’s reintroduce prisoners to the joys of breaking rocks' ', promised former Governor of Massachusetts, now Republican presidential...

Sanders Rallies Up Boston

Mar 5, 2020 | Suffolk University

Over thirteen thousand people gathered around a passionate, hand-talking Bernie Sanders in Boston Common on Saturday, February 29th, proving Sanders’ worthiness of democratic frontrunner in the...

Is Democracy the Answer to Climate Change?

Mar 5, 2020 | Suffolk University

The political importance of climate change concerns democratization directly and indirectly. A firm proposition in political science is that economic development with equitable sharing of the...

Mar 5, 2020 | Suffolk University

Take action on climate change

Mar 4, 2020 | Suffolk University

It is easy to think climate change is not a big deal. Most people tend to worry less when it comes to climate change but it is actually affecting us every second. Why is action needed? There is...

Bernie: A New High for Democratic Socialism

Mar 4, 2020 | Suffolk University

The Bernie Sanders rally was on February 29th in the Boston Common. I saw a wave of progressive democratic socialist showing up by the hundreds and thousands. The total show was around 8,000 and the...