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.

Which Pandemic is Worse: COVID-19 or the Spread of Misinformation?

Sep 30, 2022 | Ohio State University

COVID-19, also known as coronavirus, was (and still is) a virus that has taken the lives of over four million people in the last three years. The virus spreads through the...

Using Lawsuits to Silence the Press — How and Why This is Concerning

Sep 30, 2022 | Ohio State University

Freedom of Speech is a right that Americans have held dearly since our nation’s founding. Codified in the Bill of Rights, the First Amendment importantly guarantees American...

In Indonesia’s 2019 Election, Democracy Stands at the Crossroads by Michael Manangu @ University of the Philippines, Diliman

May 12, 2018 | University of the Philippines, Diliman

On April 17, 2019, Indonesia will hold its presidential and local elections simultaneously for the first time in history. The presidential election will likely be a rematch of 2014, a highly...

Why the Philippines Should Draw Lessons from South Korean Democracy by Patricia Villa @ University of the Philippines, Diliman

May 12, 2018 | University of the Philippines, Diliman

To what extent should impeachments be exercised in democracies? South Korea and the Philippines offer two opposing answers. In a Washington Post op-ed, Christian Caryl argued that South Korea had...

The March for Science, Mass Movements, and the Politicization of Facts by Anagha Kadambi @ American University

May 8, 2018 | American University

On Saturday, April 14, 2018, I watched as thousands of scientists, activists, and protesters peacefully marched down Constitution Avenue, past the Washington Monument and Environmental Protection...

In the Second Women’s March, The Movement Grows Into Itself by Victoria Hill @ American University

May 8, 2018 | American University

The weather was slightly cloudy, but surprisingly pleasant for January. Throngs of women of varying ages clustered around, carrying a homemade signs with a variety of slogans: “The future is...

Can the Inclusion of Women Stop Democratic Erosion? by Nicole Wells @ American University

May 8, 2018 | American University

I recently attended an event at the United States Institute of Peace titled “Women’s role in Constitution making”. The focus was on including women’s participation in statebuilding in post-conflict...

Complicating Democratic Rule of Law in the European Union by Jake Farris @ American University

May 7, 2018 | American University

The backsliding of democracy in Europe, especially Eastern Europe is troubling for integrative nature of the European Union (EU). The concept of a greater Europe is now being tested by countries...

American Protectionism and Democratic Erosion by Ra’Shad Johnson @Georgia State University

May 7, 2018 | Georgia State University

The truth is the United States has never been a truly free trade country, that is allowing other countries free access to US trade markets. However, recently the United States has drafted...

Losing the Plot: Democracy is the Solution, not the Problem by Sam Sharman @ Georgia State University

May 4, 2018 | Georgia State University

As academics, pundits, and causal observers respond to widespread democratic erosion across the western world, many have argued that to counter democratic erosion, we need less democracy. However,...

Will Racial Disparities Lead to Democratic Erosion? by Eseosa Osayi @ Georgia State University

May 3, 2018 | Georgia State University

Racial Disparities & Democratization The racial disparities in the criminal justice system seem to be covert, but with research can easily be seen over time. Criminalizing one group of Americans...