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.

Trump’s Evolved Form of Populism Works… and Hurts.

President Donald Trump’s second term in office has brought forth a more evolved form of populism; by incorporating authoritarian methods of governing with populist tactics, Trump is doing significant damage to America’s democracy.

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.

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...

Georgia’s Politically Motivated Convictions

Oct 14, 2022 | Ohio State University

The country of Georgia, located at the border of Europe and Asia, has recently seen a major constriction of civil liberties. Once a member of the Soviet Union, Georgia is...

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...

The Art of the Compromise (?): A Playbook by Sam Sharman @ Georgia State University

May 3, 2018 | Georgia State University

To personally experience the issues of polarization discussed throughout this course, my class split into groups of five with the goal of agreeing on a general solution to reduce gun violence in the...

“Mission Accomplished!”: Donald Trump’s Use of Social Media as a Tool of Distraction by Judson Elsholz @ Georgia State University

May 1, 2018 | Georgia State University

President Donald J. Trump’s use of social media, namely Twitter, has set a surprising new precedence for administrative communications in the United States. Trump himself has referred to his...