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.

Robert Fico’s media law: a populist attack on public broadcasting

In April 2024, Robert Fico, the Prime Minister of Slovakia introduced the new law which restricted the functioning of the critical broadcaster RTVS. The given blog emphasizes how is the populist nature of Fico demonstrated in this law and how does it fuel the democratic backsliding of Slovakia.

Demagogues: Turning America into the Child Left Behind

The emergence of technofascist demagogues in American politics pose a significant threat to democracy and education, highlighting the urgent need for critical thinking and informed choices to protect the nation’s future.

Germany’s Defense of Democracy

Populism is rising in Germany, with the far-right political party, Alternative for Germany, gaining more and more popularity that echo dangerous anti-democratic trends from Germany, raising concerns about the future of Germany’s democracy.

Coups and Chaos: The Key Factors in Burkina Faso’s Government Gone Wrong

Oct 15, 2022 | Boston University

On September 30, 2022, Burkina Faso experienced its second coup within a year, ousting the now former President Lieutenant-Colonel Pual-Henri Damiba in favor of Ibrahim...

Voter Suppression as a Means for Stealth Authoritarianism in the United States

Oct 15, 2022 | Boston University

January 6th, 2021 was a harrowing day in American history by many metrics. The country watched as a mob of President Trump’s supporters stormed the United States Capitol...

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...

Silent vs. Screaming: How Millennials are Giving Up Privacy while the Silent Generation Hangs On by Molly Simpson @ University of Louisiana, Lafayette

Dec 8, 2018 | University of Louisiana, Lafayette

Pippa Norris’s article Is Western Democracy Backsliding? Diagnosing the Risks analyzes period, life-cycle, and generation effects in public opinion. It was an intriguing read...

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...

Democratic Erosion University Course Student Blog

Robert Fico’s media law: a populist attack on public broadcasting

Demagogues: Turning America into the Child Left Behind

Germany’s Defense of Democracy

Coups and Chaos: The Key Factors in Burkina Faso’s Government Gone Wrong

Voter Suppression as a Means for Stealth Authoritarianism in the United States

United States of Democracy

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

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

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

Silent vs. Screaming: How Millennials are Giving Up Privacy while the Silent Generation Hangs On by Molly Simpson @ University of Louisiana, Lafayette

Reaching a Compromise on Gun Safety by Matthew Mottet @ Georgia State University

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

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

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