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.

History Repeats: Why Strong Global Defense is Key to Preventing Autocracy

A strong and consistent global defense by democratic nations is crucial to preventing the rise of autocratic regimes, as history shows—from the Cold War doctrines to the failed democratization of Afghanistan—that without committed follow-through and structural reform, authoritarian forces will exploit weaknesses and reclaim power.

Women in Political Dynasties: The Illusion of Choice and Democratic Erosion in the Philippines

Political dynasties have long controlled Philippine politics, with powerful families passing down leadership positions across generations. Despite the imposition of term limits discouraging dynastic rule, these families have found their way around the constitutional...

From Stardom to Senate: The Alarming Trend of Celebrity Politics in the Philippines

The intersection of celebrity and politics in the Philippines is nothing new. The phenomenon of celebrity politicians—actors, athletes, and other public figures who go from the big screen or stage to the corridors of power—has become a defining aspect of the country's...

Puerto Rican Statehood

Nov 27, 2022 | Boston University

Since the beginning of territorial rule in Puerto Rico, there have been arguments for and against statehood. Currently, Puerto Rico is under Commonwealth status. This gives...

Midterm 2022 Elections and Beyond: The Impact and Influence of Donations in American Politics

Nov 27, 2022 | Boston University

As most of the Midterm Election races have been decided, it is important to ask how we got here. Left leaning media have given much of the credit of the Democratic party to...

Macron: The Next Louis XVI? by Kennen Sparks

Apr 16, 2019 | Utah State University

The first protest against a fuel tax was on November 16th, 2018—at that time no one could have imagined that it would have ballooned into the largest series of protests in France since the infamous...

Bouteflika’s Departure: A New Chance for Democracy? by Noa Levin

Apr 16, 2019 | University of Chicago

On March 11, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Algeria’s well-weathered president, announced that he would no longer be seeking a fifth term. The announcement came amidst widespread protests at the prospect of...

The Uighurs Are Proof that China is Growing more Undemocratic by the Day by Brooke Wayment

Apr 16, 2019 | Utah State University

The Uighurs are an ethnic minority group in China that speaks a different language and are generally unique in their cultural practices from the majority Han Chinese group. However, what...

Threats to State Level Democracy by Charles Mahoney

Apr 16, 2019 | Rollins College

This article was written mainly in response to the New York Times article "Wisconsin, Ground Zero for 2020 Politics, Looks Like a Tossup Again" written by Trip Gabriel, published April 4, 2019 The...

A Deepening Division in Liberal Democracy by Evangelina Wong

Apr 16, 2019 | Rollins College

Liberal democracy, as a fragile system of government, is being threatened and eroded in the United States by continued polarization and deep divisions between people that hinges on cultural and...

Use of discriminatory Voter Policy to suppress African Americans

Apr 15, 2019 | Rollins College

by Rajdeep Singh In response to: “The Black-White Wealth Gap Is Unchanged after Half a Century”, The Economist A liberal democracy is one that not only acts upon the desires of the...

The Danger of Populism – Lessons from Rwanda by Matt Willis

Apr 15, 2019 | Rollins College

For this post, I have read an article by Kennedy Ndahiro for The Atlantic, titled "In Rwanda, We Know All About Dehumanizing Language." The concepts elucidated by Ndahiro, a native Rwandan himself,...

The Israel Effect: What Netanyahu’s Election Says About Trump’s America by Emily O’Malley

Apr 15, 2019 | Rollins College

Many Democrats suspect that, given Trump’s performance thus far, his defeat in 2020 is inevitable, which is perhaps why the Democratic field is replete with challengers hoping to win the presidency....

WHY THE PARTIES ARE INCREASING POLARIZATION AND ITS INFLUENCE ON DEMOCRATIC EROSION BY COLLIN SWORDS

Apr 15, 2019 | Rollins College

Article in reference: https://www.economist.com/united-states/2019/04/13/for-the-first-time-ever-a-majority-of-democrats-identify-as-liberals An article published in the Economist titled...