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 are student blog posts written by student participants in the Democratic Erosion Course. These posts were not written by nor represent the views of the Democratic Erosion Consortium.

When Democracy Uses Its Own Institutions: How Venezuela Eroded from Within

When Democracy Uses Its Own Institutions: How Venezuela Eroded from Within Venezuela’s democratic erosion unfolded in stages: distrust of established parties opened the door to Hugo Chávez; later reforms strengthened the presidency; and under Nicolás Maduro,...
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Bolivia’s Double-Edged Transformation: How Resource Nationalism Strengthened – and Strained – Democracy

In 2016, Bolivians were asked a simple question: should President Evo Morales be allowed to run for another term? They answered no. Yet, one year later, Bolivia’s Constitutional Tribunal removed the country’s presidential term limits and allowed Morales to run again....
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Thaksin Shinawatra: Rise, Ruin, and Political Rebirth

First the father, then the brother-in-law and sister—and now the youngest daughter. The fourth prime minister from the Shinawatra family has been dismissed by the constitutional court. In August 2025, the youngest daughter of the Shinawatra family and the youngest...
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Feeling the Bern

Mar 6, 2020 |

Drawing crowds over thirteen thousand people, Bernie Sanders entertained a lot of people. This was very first experience at a rally for a presidential candidate and I will never forget it. I felt...

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