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.

Donald Trump the Nazi Reincarnate?: Godwin’s Law and How This Phenomenon is Counterproductive to Understanding Democratic Erosion

What do we hope to accomplish when comparing President Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler, a tyrannical perpetrator of genocide?

The Russia-Ukraine War Bodes Poorly for Democracy, But Not in the Way You Think

The Russia-Ukraine War is a serious threat to global democracy through the growing wave of isolationism in the United States, an entity that has typically been at the forefront of fighting authoritarianism across the world.

The Trump Administration’s Attack on USAID

The Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle USAID, increase concerns about democratic backsliding as it could result in a trend with the executive undermining institutional legitimacy.

Unfair Elections: A Breach of Freedom

Sep 30, 2022 | Ohio State University

The concept of free and fair elections, one of the hallmarks of a functioning democracy, seems to be slipping away in the United States. While Donald Trump’s claims of...

Trump’s Schedule F Is a Threat to Democracy

Sep 30, 2022 | Ohio State University

And you thought Trump’s 92% adviser turnover rate was bad? Former President Donald Trump has committed, upon reelection, to legally reclassify thousands of federal jobs to...

The Ultimate Fight: U.S.A. vs Populism by Kaylan Anderson @University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Dec 6, 2018 | University of Louisiana, Lafayette

In the United States some people may feel that having elected Donald Trump as president has contributed to the increase of populism. Citizens gravitate towards populism in hopes of electing a...

The Viségrad Group: The New Illiberal Democratic Bloc by Kameron Williams @ University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Dec 5, 2018 | University of Louisiana, Lafayette

The fall of communism and the dissolution of the Soviet Union brought hope that the newly liberated Central and Eastern European countries would be able to step out of the shackles of...

Speech into Action: Do Social Media Companies have an Obligation to Curtail Hate Groups? By Zach Hopkins @ Georgia State University

Dec 3, 2018 | Georgia State University

We live in a world where democracy seems to be wavering and polarization intensifying with each passing moment. What role do large social media companies have in aiding this divide or perhaps...

The Caravan of Asylum Seekers by Julie Martinez @ Georgia State University

Dec 2, 2018 | Georgia State University

The United States and Mexico are being faced with a serious immigration problem from the Central Americans seeking asylum. Most of the people migrating are from Honduras, a country that has become...

Is President Donald Trump Going To Damage American Democracy? by Marvin R. Johnson

Nov 30, 2018 | University of Louisiana, Lafayette

Levitsky and Ziblatt present what appears to be a transparent strategy to protect a democracy. We the people, and actors in appointed positions have the power to essentially control who exits and...

“Maria had its way with Puerto Rico and the Government will barely put a band aid” by “Julian Toro” @ “Georgia State University”

Nov 7, 2018 | Georgia State University