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...

Is the Venezuelan Government Facing a Point of No Return?

Nov 27, 2022 | Boston University

A once successful democracy, Venezuela has experienced a sudden economic downturn due in part to the price of oil dropping worldwide, causing a shift at all levels of the...

The Creation of the National Constituent Assembly

Nov 27, 2022 | Boston University

The National Constituent Assembly Creation Venezuela was once seen as a country that seemed to be on the right track to democracy in Latin America, but that changed when...

Attending a City Council Meeting by Sydney Willis

Apr 15, 2019 | Rollins College

Attending a city council meeting is one of the easiest ways to be involved in local politics, but many people don’t attend them because they have a reputation of being long and boring. When I...

The Fragmented State of the Democratic Party by Jacob Buckelew

Apr 15, 2019 | Rollins College

A recent article by David Frum of The Atlantic titled “Democrats Are Falling Into the Ilhan Omar Trap” argues that President Trump is making Representative Omar into the face of the party as the...

The independence of central banks

Apr 15, 2019 | Rollins College

It’s been a long time since a political-economic article has grabbed my attention like The Economist’s “The independence of central banks is under threat from politics.” The article opens with “This...

Why Elizabeth Warren is a Populist

Apr 15, 2019 | Rollins College

Elizabeth Warren is affiliated with the Democratic Party of the United States and is the current senator of the state of Massachusetts. Prior to her political career, she was a prominent academic --...

Populism in the 2020 Presidential Race?

Apr 15, 2019 | Rollins College

When we think of populism, or the rise of populism, it’s pretty easy to think of Donald Trump. We think of his rants against immigrants. We think of his campaign against the elites, his cries to...

ACLU: An Important Resource

Apr 15, 2019 | Suffolk University

I recently attended a lecture given by Rahsaan Hall, director of Racial Justice Program for the ACLU of Massachusetts. I found this lecture to be extremely interesting and relative to the current...

Symptoms of Democratic Erosion in the United States, Stemming from the Simplest Roots of government

Apr 14, 2019 | Suffolk University

During the spring semester of 2019, I attended a Governor’s Council hearing at the Massachusetts State house. I was lucky enough to be invited to the hearing by my aunt who is currently serving her...

CEO Makes Millions but Does Not Pay Employees a Living Wage – Economic Inequality and Democratic Erosion in the US

Apr 14, 2019 | Rollins College

In a recent opinion piece by Paul Waldman of the Washington Post, he references a hearing in the House of Representatives, in which freshman representative Katie Porter (D.-Calif) questions Jamie...

“How Democracies Die” by Lukus Berber

Apr 14, 2019 | University of Chicago

“How Democracies Die”, by Levitsky, paints a truly dire picture for American democracy. The current political moment in the United States is feisty to say the very least. Historically, the US has...