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.

You Can’t Sit with Us: The Practice of Democratic Gatekeeping and How It Has Saved Democracies

At the 11th hour of the 2024 election many Republican politicians and members of congress took a stance against Republican candidate, Donald Trump. Through the “Republicans for Harris” tagline, they urged their supporters through various forms of appeals to vote...

The Erosion of an Already Weak Democracy: The Rise and Fall of Jovenel Moïse

Jovenel Moïse's presidency marked a dangerous shift from Haiti's already shaky democracy to overt authoritarianism. Delayed elections, unchecked abuse of executive power, and violent suppression of resistance became the norm. By the time of his assassination in 2021,...

Undermining the Feedback Loop: How Trump’s Educational Policies Hinder Democratic Accountability

In a larger trend of censoring opinions which the Trump administration views as undesirable, the Trump administration’s actions towards schools and universities has a negative impact on democracy as a whole. Such a system depends on the free transmission of...

Will El Salvador Ever Have a Real Democracy?

Nov 18, 2022 | Boston University

Gang members are secured during a police operation at Izalco jail during a 24-hour lockdown ordered by El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele in Izalco, El Salvador....

Has Hiring a Security Detail Become a Prerequisite for Elected Officials?

Nov 13, 2022 | Skidmore College

It has become commonplace to hear about the growing daily threats of violence to U.S. elected officials since the now infamous January 6th, 2021 Insurrection at the Capitol....

The Prespa Agreement: How North Macedonia’s Name Change is a Step Forward for Democracy by Emily Dichele

Mar 10, 2019 | Suffolk University

As of February 2019, Macedonia has officially changed their name to the Republic of North Macedonia after the signing of the Prespa agreement. The agreement between Greece and Macedonia required the...

The Putin Internet Paradox; Decreased Internet Freedom Could Lead to Liberalization in Russia by Jonathan Eckel

Mar 10, 2019 | Suffolk University

Putin’s reign of power in Russia has been augmented, in part, by his ever-increasing vice grip on independent media outlets and oppositional voices. Currently, Russia ranks 148th out of 180...

China’s “One country, two systems” policy: A threat to Taiwan’s democracy by Hoang Nguyen

Mar 10, 2019 | Suffolk University

From left to right: Chinese President Xi Jinping, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and US President Donald Trump. Photo: Financial Times Xi Jinping’s Ambition At the 19th Party Congress of the...

Taiwan’s Road to Freedom by Anna Meomutli

Mar 10, 2019 | Suffolk University

Republic of China, another name of Taiwan, is a quasi-independent state in the East Asian region that is showing the world that one can and will make it to freedom if people are connected by the...

Nickel and Dimed by Gabriel Moran

Mar 10, 2019 | Suffolk University

What does democratic backsliding mean for the U.S. economy when looking through the scope of other nondemocratic/backsliding countries? With abject poverty on the decline, and industrialization of...

The Ethics of Science, Protest, and Technology: Helpful or Harmful? By Emily Betancourt

Mar 10, 2019 | Suffolk University

Science may cause wars, although an extreme perspective, highly possible. The United States is subjective towards where they spend their dollars. However, they are quick on devoting expenditures...

A Broken System by Humza Usman

Mar 10, 2019 | Suffolk University

The American criminal justice system raises many concerns among ethnic minorities within this diverse country as we see rising reports of police brutality along with racial disparity in length of...

Venezuela vs. United States: Who’s Really in Control? By Brynn Kooyenga

Mar 9, 2019 | Suffolk University

On the three-year anniversary of the former Venezuelan President’s, Hugo Chávez, death I attended a discussion lead by the Massachusetts Peace Action organization at the Community Church of Boston....

Lexington | Diversity and its discontents

Mar 9, 2019 | Rollins College

The Economist February 23rd 2019 Donald Trump’s real target is not illegal immigration but a vast, unstoppable increase in diversity When Juan Garcia started work as an urban planner for the...