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.

The Judicial Branch’s Downfall

By ruling with bias, the Judicial Branch is overstepping its constitutional role and threatening the integrity of our separation of powers and system of checks and balances.

Israel’s Judicial Reforms: A Potential Danger to Democracy?

Israel’s suggested judicial reforms pose a risk to democratic checks and balances by undermining the independence of the judiciary, centralizing executive authority, and potentially weakening democratic principles, similar to what has been observed in countries like Poland.

Arresting Opposition and Squashing Protests: Democratic Backsliding in Turkey Under Erdoğan

Turkey has been inching towards autocracy under Erdoğan and the AKP for the last 22 years.

Thailand’s Government Continues Expanding Their Rights at the Expense of Its People

Oct 15, 2022 | Ohio State University

From a young age, we learn to make the most of the hand we’re dealt. As time goes on, we learn to adapt. We learn to use the mechanisms in place to achieve our goals. We see...

Is Niger a Democratic State? Not Yet.

Oct 14, 2022 | Ohio State University

Is Niger a democratic state? Three years ago, the answer would’ve been a solid no. Niger's current condition after last year’s presidential election renders today’s answer...

A Defining Moment for Press in the United States by Eugene Rhee

Feb 4, 2019 | Rhode Island School of Design

Tensions between the press and figures in power, especially the wealthy, have always been present. However, after watching the documentary, “Nobody Speaks: Trials of the Free Press”, which was...

The Unwritten Rules in Rhode Island’s Speaker Dilemma by Lars Barstad

Feb 2, 2019 | Rhode Island School of Design

The state of Rhode Island has a severely imbalanced distribution of power within its House of Representatives. Specifically, the Speaker of the House never loses a vote. I only recently learned...

City of Providence Aims to Prohibit All Property Demolitions and Increase Nurse Practitioner & Teacher Diversity by Alex Riddle

Feb 2, 2019 | Rhode Island School of Design

The City of Providence strong-arms business opportunities with new limitations to property demolitions and developments. Are our representatives acting in our best interest? THE SCENE: 444...

Is democracy declining in Israel? by Tal Been, Gal Factor, Or Hcabra, Shaked Infeld, Tally Kyegan, Noam Noy, Daniel Padon,and Sharon Somech

Jan 14, 2019 | Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

The Department of Government and Politics at Ben-Gurion University recently hosted (17/2/18) a panel entitled: “Is democracy declining in Israel?,” featuring prominent scholars who study the Israeli...

Is Democratic Backsliding Sometimes a Democratic Choice? by Ji’Carla Martínez @University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Dec 10, 2018 | University of Louisiana, Lafayette

As defined by political scientists, democratic backsliding is the gradual breakdown of democratic institutions within a country. With the rise of populism and nationalism being reflected in various...

United States of Democracy

Dec 10, 2018 | University of Louisiana, Lafayette

Before World War II, America tried to keep to itself. The young country was trying to keep its head above water after decades of economic recessions off and on. After the two World Wars, America...

Much A Coup About Nothing: Examining the Distinction Without Difference Between Coups d’Etat and Promissory Coups by Steve Noyes @ University of Louisiana, Lafayette

Dec 10, 2018 | University of Louisiana, Lafayette

Exploring the concept of the promissory coup as it relates to the traditional coup d'etat. The general global decline in coups d’état, while a positive facet of the ever-changing...

Backrubbers of the Elite: on the U.S Surveillance State & Doubting the “Arc of History”

Dec 10, 2018 | University of Louisiana, Lafayette

There is almost no other political expression as irritatingly frustrating to me as the “arc of history” is. The phrase, as popularized by President Obama during his tenure, has become a safety...

A Not So Secret Ballot? By: Jackson A. Jimenez @University of Louisiana

Dec 9, 2018 | University of Louisiana, Lafayette

Are digital voter files undermining free and fair elections in the United States? Could the United States’ democratic electoral processes be under assault at the hands of...