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.

Working Towards Building An Inclusive Democracy

Oct 20, 2022 | Suffolk University

“The 2020 Annual Freedom House Report finds that democracy, civil liberties, freedom, minority rights, and pluralism have been in decline globally for 14 consecutive years,...

The New GOP: Small-Government to Anti-Government

Oct 20, 2022 | Suffolk University

“I’m scared, Cameron. Things never used to be like this. They were never great but they’ve never been this bad.” This was my mom’s reaction to watching the news coverage of...

A Saving Grace: Why the Left Must Reclaim Patriotism by Heather Marshall

Apr 11, 2019 | Suffolk University

Crowded into Old North Church in Boston, the site where the beacon was lit to spur on Paul Revere’s ride, John Shattuck discussed the populism and nationalism plaguing this nation and poisoning the...

Recreational Marijuana in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by Amy Gagnon

Apr 11, 2019 | Suffolk University

On February 21, 2018, I attended a Cannabis Control Commission meeting for the city of Boston hosted by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. The mission of the CCC is to honor the will of the voters...

Media Denunciation by Gabriel Moran

Apr 11, 2019 | Suffolk University

Around the world, there has been an attack on the media in countries everywhere that experience democratic backsliding. In places like Turkey, Venezuela, Poland and many more, the media remains...

Kazakhstan’s Elections: A Facade or Genuine Change Towards Democracy? by Michael Caulfield

Apr 11, 2019 | Boston University

Recently, the interim president of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, called for quick elections to help transition the country into having a new, democratically elected leader. However, the...

“Fake News, or No News – The Growing Drought of Local Journalism” By Ruth Jones

Apr 11, 2019 | Utah State University

As local media disappears there is void of answers to the question, what will take its place. The ability of citizens to check the government has long been a necessary virtue for the success of...

Proposal Against Populism Undermined By Left-wing Arrogance by Salvatore Ragonese

Apr 11, 2019 | Suffolk University

John Shattuck, a professor at Tufts University, recently gave a public lecture on the topic of populism and nationalism. Although it touched upon an international issue, Shattuck’s speech was...

The Undemocratic Nature of Disparaging the Press by Emily Dichele

Apr 11, 2019 | Suffolk University

On February 6th, 2019, I attended a Ford Hall Forum event entitled “The Enemy of the People? Freedom of the Press and Democracy” in which Professor Bryan Trabold and Marjorie Pritchard, deputy...

Enforcing Border’s and Ensuring Free Speech: Trump’s Latest in His Pursuit of Re-Election by Matthew Alfonso

Apr 10, 2019 | Boston University

President Trump has recently looked into limiting asylum at the United States border, and will be asking for more border wall funding come 2020. In roughly the same period of time, Trump also issued...

Mitch McConnell’s Attempts at Eroding American Democracy by Kendall Sirica

Apr 10, 2019 | Boston University

Starting his career in the Senate nearly thirty-five years ago and holding positions as the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Majority Whip, Senate Minority Leader, and now...