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.
Democratic Backsliding in Mali? 
Oct 14, 2022 | Ohio State University
While democratic backsliding has become a question in some of the world’s biggest and most successful...
Is It Too Late to Stop Guatemalan Corruption?
Oct 14, 2022 | Ohio State University
Corruption runs rampant in Guatemala - and the destruction of human rights is on its path. Recent years under Guatemala’s last two presidents, Jimmy Morales (2016-20) and...
Nicaragua’s April 19 Movement – the End of Daniel Ortega’s Presidency? By Hannah Frances C. Bodegon @ University of the Philippines-Diliman
May 15, 2018 | University of the Philippines, Diliman
In mid-April, a spate of protests led by students around the cities of Nicaragua, starting in the capital city of Managua, erupted over President Ortega’s social security reform. Such reform...
Conveying Democracy in Kenya: An Attempt to Discourse Analysis by Michelle Sto. Tomas @ University of the Philippines, Diliman
May 15, 2018 | University of the Philippines, Diliman
Kenya has been under authoritarianism for quite some years now and still prevalent under the presidency of Uhuru Kenyatta. Authoritarianism, in Kenya’s case, seems to have resulted into a domino...
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...