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 blogs reflect the views of the student authors, and not those of the Democratic Erosion Consortium.

Counter-Gerrymandering and What it Means for American Democracy

Gerrymandering is a word well known to most with even a passing interest in politics, but to many who don’t pay attention, it’s a word they’ve just recently started hearing. Gerrymandering is the process by which elected officials are able to engineer their own...

Long Term Effects of the “Secret Club” Scandal

The "Secret Club” Scandal, often referred to as the "Slovenska" affair, shocked Croatian society and uncovered deep seated corruption that goes all the way to the top. During strict COVID-19 lockdowns, when ordinary citizens faced heavy restrictions, prominent...

Analyzing the 2024 Mexican Judicial Reforms

In 2024, the then-President of Mexico, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, passed a sweeping overhaul of the judiciary in Mexico. The 2024 judicial reforms introduced a dramatic overhaul of Mexico’s judicial system, eroding judicial independence and reducing the Supreme...

Political Attitudes, Polarization, and Their Consequences in the United States

May 10, 2024 | William Jewell College

The United States has been facing political polarization since the early 1970s - but the uprise of technology, media, and freedom of expression has demonstrated how a...

A 2024 Rematch: Will it be the Authoritarian or the Genocide-Enabler?

May 10, 2024 | American University

With the grim results of Super Tuesday, we face the catastrophic choice between Trump, espousing authoritarian ideology, and Biden, a now genocide-enabler. “Democracies...

Trump & Twitter

Dec 10, 2019 | Salem State University

President Trump’s “Tweet First and Question Later” strategy is nothing new, but earlier this month Trump was on twitter during his own impeachment inquiry. Trump wasn’t in the building, for the...

What’s next for Bolivia after Morales’ resignation?

Dec 10, 2019 | University of the Philippines, Diliman

The news on Evo Morales’ resignation came as a surprise. With his tight hold of the power in the past 14 years as he ruled Bolivia, it raises the question on why he would suddenly resign? His vice...

Modi annexed Jammu and Kashmir, is it a bold move towards authoritarianism?

Dec 10, 2019 | University of the Philippines, Diliman

“Democracies may die at the hands not of generals but of elected leaders — presidents or prime ministers who subvert the very process that brought them to power” were the strong words of Steven...

Indigenous Struggles: A Shortfall of Philippine Democracy

Dec 9, 2019 | University of the Philippines, Diliman

The Philippines opened the 30th Southeast Asian Games this year with a performance celebrating the country’s indigenous cultures. A day earlier, indigenous Aeta communities were given a notice...

The Future of Democracy is Purple

Dec 9, 2019 | University of the Philippines, Diliman

In a world of increasing political polarization, a fast-growing group of people from media and academe are pushing back in the United States in defense of democracy— donning the color purple....

Russian Social Media Misinformation and its Attack on US Democracy

Dec 9, 2019 | Salem State University

During the last five years, Russian-organized spreads of disinformation over various social media platforms have undermined...

Making Sense of Imperial Manila: The Philippine Rural-Urban Divide in the Era of Rodrigo Duterte

Dec 9, 2019 | University of the Philippines, Diliman

The 30th South East Asian Games (SEA Games) hosted by the Philippines in 2019 have caused social cleavages to resurface at a time when the host nation should be presenting a united front. Trouble...

Mayor of Manila: A Portrait of Populism as Performativity

Dec 9, 2019 | University of the Philippines, Diliman

Last September, I started a new job in Manila City. Despite having lived right next to it for all of my adult life, spending most of my waking hours in a new city – the country’s capital – has taken...

Is orange ever a possibility in Thai politics?

Dec 9, 2019 | University of the Philippines, Diliman

Thailand is the country that has had the most number of coups in modern history. This says a lot about how troubled Thai politics is and how deep polarization occurs in this relatively progressive...