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.

Mahsa Amini and Protests in Iran

Oct 31, 2022 | Skidmore College

For the past seven weeks, Iran has seen national protests with the gravitas to suggest the possibility of revolution. The protests were ignited by the death of 22-year-old...

Why Are Young People Not Voting?

Oct 20, 2022 | Suffolk University

I attended a zoom seminar titled “Youth Civic Participation: More than Just Voting” that focused on discussing why young people aren’t showing up to the polls, but are among...

Analysis of “Tech Is Splitting The US Work Force in Two”

Apr 13, 2019 | Rollins College

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/04/business/economy/productivity-inequality-wages.html This article explains that automation is replacing thousands of jobs while providing only an infinitesimal...

The US Democracy is Like My Old F-150 by Sam Hanna

Apr 13, 2019 | Rollins College

My family has a 2001 Ford F-150 with over 160,000 miles on the odometer. It runs like a champ once you get it...

Shizno Abe Rewriting Japan by Alexander Holt

Apr 12, 2019 | Utah State University

Is Prime Minister Shizno Abe leading Japan towards a more authoritarian identity? This might seem like a strange question, as Japan has been considered a democracy since US occupation of the islands...

Same Battle, Different Ground – Sustainability and Civic Engagement in Taiwan and the US

Apr 12, 2019 | Suffolk University

Borders, democracy, nothing will matter once the planet is dead, so citizens across the world start their battle for sustainability. Unlikely allies US and Taiwan have very similar ways of action...

President Trump and Democracy

Apr 12, 2019 | Boston University

by Mykala Jordan From the beginning, Donald Trump has been ruthless. Now that he has been serving as our President for over...

Foreign aid hinders the construction of Democracy in Africa by Hoang Nguyen

Apr 12, 2019 | Suffolk University

Foreign aid: a transfer from poor people in rich countries to rich people in poor countries _Dean Acheson_ The issues of foreign aid have always involved in corruption and inefficiency since the...

The Ethics of War: Regional Tension Flares up between India and Pakistan by Emily Betancourt

Apr 12, 2019 | Suffolk University

Although going to war is controversial, many countries deem it necessary. However, war tends to be more destructive than beneficial. What is war? How are wars caused? Why go to war? Is war...

Italian Democracy: A Premonition to the Future of Democracy Across Europe by Brynn Kooyenga

Apr 12, 2019 | Suffolk University

This time last year, Italy’s political system suffered dramatic changes when, for the first time since the beginning of its democracy, a coalition of ultra nationalist parties won. The Five Star...

Azerbaijan: Anti-LGBT Crackdown by Logan O’Neil

Apr 11, 2019 | Suffolk University

Wednesday - March 14, 2019. Massachusetts House legislators overwhelmingly passed bill H.140 concerning the banning of practicing gay conversion therapy on minors. In a landslide decision (147-8)...