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.

Ohio’s Voter Roll Maintenance Process Impedes Democratic Voter Participation

Sep 29, 2022 | Ohio State University

“Limit voter fraud at the expense of disenfranchising eligible voters.” That’s the message that the Ohio state legislature and the U.S. Supreme Court are sending with their...

The Danger of Electing Election Deniers

Sep 28, 2022 | Ohio State University

Across the country, sixty percent of Americans will have an election denier on their ballot. At least 16 states will have a candidate running for secretary of state (or...

Can the Curtain Really Lift Over North Korea? by Dominique Kren @ American University

Apr 27, 2018 | American University

Sixty-five years ago, the Korean war was paused with a ceasefire, bringing about almost seven decades of intense hostility between the North and the South who, technically, have never ended the war...

March for Science from ad hoc protest to International Grassroots Movement -Soli Gebremichael @American University

Apr 26, 2018 | American University

I attended both March for Science (MFS) rallies in 2017 and 2018. This year’s March was conducted on April 14th, sunny Saturday, perfect to be in outdoors. The organizers invited more than 18...

“it will not purify unless it is filthy”- Short Story of Resistance in Ethiopia -Soli Gebremichael @American University

Apr 26, 2018 | American University

Ethiopia is a country in the horn of Africa that failed under communist military junta even though it successfully conducted a revolution that toppled the 42 years old monarch in 1974. It took 17...

The Possibility of Democratic Erosion in Spain and Catalonia by Potee Robinson @ Georgia State University

Apr 24, 2018 | Georgia State University

Catalonia once was its own autonomous entity with its own customs, language, laws, however this all began to change in the 18th Century with King Felipe V of Spain. Spain had control of the...

Successful Protests Stop Sargasyan From Pulling a Putin in Armenia by Victoria Hill @ American University

Apr 24, 2018 | American University

In April 2018, Serzh Sargsyan reached the end of his constitutionally-allowed two terms as President of Armenia. Less than ten days later, the national assembly elected him as Prime Minister. The...

How George Orwell’s Future Becomes Reality Through the Help of Sinclair Broadcast Group by Dominique Kren

Apr 24, 2018 | American University

As discussed in detail over this semester, one of the key pillars of a democratic system of government is freedom of the press. Perhaps one of the key symptoms of an eroding democratic...

March of our Lives in Atlanta, GA by Jasmeet K. Nagi @Georgia State University

Apr 23, 2018 | Georgia State University

On March 24th2018 the March of our Lives took place in Atlanta, Georgia at the Georgia State Capitol. March of our Lives was launched by the survivors of the Parkland shooting held in Florida hence,...

Alert the Media: India’s Freedom of the Press under Threat by Anagha Kadambi @ American University

Apr 23, 2018 | American University

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, under pressure from the news media, opposition parties, and others, recently withdrew a proposed bill to punish purveyors of so-called “fake news” by stripping...

“FUTURE OF OUR NATION” by Lauren C. Jones @ Georgia State University

Apr 23, 2018 | Georgia State University

On Tuesday, January 30, 2018 at 9:15pm EST, President Donald Trump delivered his first State of the Union address as the 45thpresident of the United States of America. I was able to not only witness...