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.

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.

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.

Fraud in Zambia: Can Investigating Corruption Hurt Democracy?

Oct 14, 2022 | Ohio State University

Zambia's democracy needs a savior, and many believe that savior just might be the newly elected President Hichilema. Since his election in 2021, Hichilema's Zambia has seen...

Retrogressive Reform: Poland’s Judicial Creep Backwards

Oct 14, 2022 | Ohio State University

Since the fall of communism in Poland in 1989, no single party has won an outright majority of seats in parliamentary elections - until the PiS (Law and Justice) Party...

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...

Political Corruption: The Threat of Democratic Erosion in Romania by Nicole Wells @ American University

Apr 22, 2018 | American University

Over the last four years, Romania has been rocked by major protests and riots not seen since the Revolution of 1989 that ended the brutal Communist dictatorship of Nicolae Ceaucescu. Major...

A Call for the Immediate Demise of the Two-Party System by LaDaisha Claybrook @ University of Memphis

Apr 20, 2018 | University of Memphis

Earlier this month, the College Democrats held a Progressive in Politics discussion, which involved local leaders in the Democratic Party. It was your basic liberal discussion, in which panel...

How Racism Has Eroded Democracy for Minorities by LaDaisha Claybrook @ University of Memphis

Apr 20, 2018 | University of Memphis

On March 18, 2018, Stephon Clark, a 21-year-old, unarmed, black man was shot and killed by local police in his own backyard. His death sentence was the result of holding a phone that strangely...

Trump, Impeachment, and the Relevance of Political Parties By Chase Dunn @ American University

Apr 19, 2018 | American University

There has been much talk about impeaching President Trump. Some in the Democratic Party are calling for impeachment, others are cautioning against using impeachment as a political weapon. The...

The Necessity of Immigration Reform for the Modern U.S. Democracy by Wesley Brock @ University of Memphis

Apr 18, 2018 | University of Memphis

Imagine if you would waking up like you have every day for the past thirty years going to your place of work only to be arrested, along with all your co-workers. This was the nightmarish scene at...