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.

A Green Card Once Meant Protection: Now it is Fear

A Green Card Once Meant Protection: Now it is Fear By Fotios E. Meimeteas Imagine you are a single mother in the United States, raising four children who depend on you. You have established a new life, built a home, paid taxes, and lived in the United States for...

Food Security is Rooted Abroad

Global fertilizer supply chains connect geopolitical events abroad to food production at home in ways most consumers don’t see.

The Meaning of Silence : What the moment of silence for Melissa Hortman says about American democracy

On June 14, 2025, the lives of Melissa Hortman who was a House speaker in Minnesota and her husband Mark were taken in what authorities believe to be a politically motivated act of violence. The same day Senator John Hoffman and his wife were also shot and...

Authoritarian Digitalization in the Philippines: How the Dutertes Controlled the Filipino Citizenry through Social Media

May 27, 2024 | University of the Philippines, Diliman

The authoritarian landscape is changing, yet the strategies and objectives remain the same in some aspects. Some weak democracies are exhibiting patterns of resurgent or...

Philippine Politicians Protect Fugitive Pastor

May 27, 2024 | University of the Philippines, Diliman

Four Filipino senators have signed a written objection against the fugitive pastor Apollo Quiboloy. The said pastor is under investigation and wanted by the Federal Bureau...

Understanding the Effects of “Alternative Facts” by Leon Chin

May 7, 2019 | University of Chicago

It appears that institutions that serve to disseminate information from the government to the general public is incredibly important. President Trump himself has demystified the norms of sharing and...

Biden: Promising to Reverse Democratic Backsliding and Resisting the temptation to join the Erosion by Warren Casey Epstein

May 7, 2019 | University of Chicago

Is former-Vice President Biden’s campaign for president promising to reverse potential democratic backsliding in the United States? American voters tend to elect a president who cures the single...

Turkish Election Court Calls For Re-vote in Istanbul Mayoral Election by Victoria Malloy

May 7, 2019 | University of Chicago

Crowd at Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s rally after the 2016 coup attempt | Ozan Kose (AFP) The Istanbul mayoral election was one of a series of upsets for the AKP, Turkey’s ruling party,...

New World Order by Thomas Martino

May 7, 2019 | University of Chicago

The Gulf War On September 11, 1990, President H.W. Bush addressed a joint session of Congress concerning the Gulf War. The War was a decisive victory for the United States and a coalition of more...

Rise of Brazilian Nationalism In Education by Luis Sierra

May 7, 2019 | University of Chicago

It would not be a stretch to call Brazil's president Jair Bolsonaro's actions and comments in line with those of a right-wing populist. He rushed to victory in the 2018 Presidential elections vowing...

Common Sense-orship- Malak Arafa

May 7, 2019 | University of Chicago

Censorship and lack of press freedom in Eritrea: In my previous blog posts, I’ve discussed patterns of democratic erosion in different cases. In this blog post, I would like to delve into the...

Pete Buttigieg: Court Reform or Court-Packing? by Charlotte Bairey

May 7, 2019 | University of Chicago

2020 presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg had raised the idea court reform as a part of his platform. He has demonstrated interest in increasing the number of seats, or an appellate rotation plan....

Pete Buttigieg: the anti-backsliding candidate? by Emily Maercklein

May 7, 2019 | University of Chicago

Day One in the Buttigieg Administration Compared to the policy-dense campaigns run by Bernie Sanders and other Democratic hopefuls, Pete Buttigieg’s candidacy has, thus far, been surprisingly free...

Analyzing the Spanish Election: How Spain’s Far-Right Party Goes Beyond the Typical Confines of Populism by Aliza Oppenheim

May 7, 2019 | University of Chicago

The winner of Spain’s recent general election claims that his party “sent a message to the world that it’s possible to win against regression and authoritarianism.” Spain’s election was held on...