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.

Drawing the Line in Law: How India’s CAA Turns Citizenship into a Religious Test

India's Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) exemplifies how the application of a supposedly technical citizenship law can subvert the democratic boundaries between "citizens" and "non-citizens." By making provisions for the expedited naturalization of select non-Muslim...

Backsliding or Normalization? What is Driving the Changes to Chilean Voting Laws

As Chile changes its voting laws for immigrants it is backsliding away from a highly progressive past while still remaining relatively progressive; what does this mean for democracy and democratic erosion?

Democracy and the Press: Netanyahu’s Threat to Media Freedom

An analysis of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent efforts to restrict free media in Israel.

Democratic Erosion: Threats in the Philippine Democracy

Dec 16, 2022 | University of the Philippines, Diliman

Democratic Erosion (also known as Democratic Backsliding) is an unsettlingly prevalent phenomenon in which competitive elections are undermined, individuals lose the right...

Economic Instability in Turkey: An Attempt to Find a New Economic Model or Political Adventure

Dec 16, 2022 | Suffolk University

This story is about an autocrat who has been in big politics for 20 years. Under his rule, the exchange rate of the national currency has collapsed several times, prices...

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...

Democratic Erosion: Propaganda Has Failed Us

Apr 14, 2019 | Georgia State University

Once a month, the Newton County, Georgia Republican Committee hold meetings to discuss two-year plans, new tactics on propaganda, and how the party can spread their ideas and policies throughout the...

The United States of Acting Officials – Samantha Rip

Apr 13, 2019 | American University

On Sunday, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristjen Nielsen resigned after overseeing one of the most controversial immigration policies in recent history. That same day, it was revealed that Kevin...

Donald Trump’s Negative Example is Trending with Jair Bolsonaro by Austin Anderson

Apr 13, 2019 | Utah State University

Denouncing reporter's statements as “fake news”, moving the embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, pulling out of the Paris Accords, a political battle against Venezuela’s president Nicolas...

Local Democracy in Action

Apr 13, 2019 | Rollins College

Planning and Zoning Board: Winter Park, FL Emily Curran This past week I went to a Planning and Zoning Board meeting at the City Hall for the town of Winter Park, where Rollins College is located....

The Ripple Effect by EJ Broker

Apr 13, 2019 | Rollins College

This post is written in response to two articles in the April 13 print edition of The Economist, both under the Leaders section: ‘Israel’s election, Bibi the conjuror’ and ‘Elections in Indonesia,...

Analysis of “Tech Is Splitting The US Work Force in Two”

Apr 13, 2019 | Rollins College

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/04/business/economy/productivity-inequality-wages.html This article explains that automation is replacing thousands of jobs while providing only an infinitesimal...

The US Democracy is Like My Old F-150 by Sam Hanna

Apr 13, 2019 | Rollins College

My family has a 2001 Ford F-150 with over 160,000 miles on the odometer. It runs like a champ once you get it...