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.

Democracy Six Feet Under: How Disinformation is Burying Philippine Democracy Alive

Philippine democracy is in great danger once again now that the two families who benefited the most from disinformation – the Marcoses and Dutertes, are in power and have turned against one another. As both camps sling disinformation against each other, the...
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MAGA Meritocracy and Populist Ironies: Eroding Democracy from Within?

The MAGA movement’s embrace of “meritocracy,” often wielded against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, reveals a profound and damaging contradiction at the heart of its populist appeal, with serious implications for American democracy. While promising...
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Redefining the West: How JD Vance’s Speech in Munich became a Turning Point in Transatlantic Politics

On February 14, 2025, JD Vance, the Vice President of the United States, addressed the Munich Security Conference.  This conference is one of the world’s most important forums on international security policy. Traditionally, it focuses on transatlantic unity, but JD...
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