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.
Investigating the January 6th Insurrection
Jun 25, 2022 | University of Denver
A peaceful transfer of presidential power seems to be the normal, expected experience. For generations, we have watched as losing candidates respectfully attend the...
United States Democracy in Grave Danger
Jun 25, 2022 | University of Denver
It's been nearly three years since most Americans elected president Biden into office; however, his election left some Americans hopeless and unsure of American...
In His Consolidated Authoritarian Regime, Putin Masquerades Democracy by Sarah Armstrong @ Yale University
Mar 28, 2018 | Yale University
While Russia masquerades characteristics of democracy, President Vladimir Putin presides over an authoritarian political system with power concentrated entirely in his regime. Lacking an independent...
Does the Deteriorating Legitimacy of Several of Ghana’s Democratic Institutions Threaten its Status as a Model Democracy for Africa? by Tyler Morley @ Yale University
Mar 28, 2018 | Yale University
The 2016 Presidential election in Ghana was one of the more anticipated sub-Saharan election in recent history. As Ghana is often referred to as a “model democracy” for sub-Saharan Africa,...
Repeated State of Emergency Declaration (SOE) in Ethiopia, a Risk of a Slide to a Closed Autocracy by Soli Gebremichael @American University
Mar 28, 2018 | American University
Befekadu Hailu, a renowned blogger; was taken from his house by civilian clothed security forces on November 11th, 2016 morning. He spent the followed 33 days in a detention camp, being forced of...
Constitutional Change Leads to Democratic Erosion in Bolivia by Emma Nelson @ Georgia State University
Mar 27, 2018 | Georgia State University
Even though it would seem that when a country analyzes and rewrites parts of their constitution it would be a step forward, is this actually the case? Thomas Jefferson once said that a constitution...
Decline of Democracy Via Term Limits in Africa: Why the Support and Maintenance is Critical by Andre’ James Thomas @ American University
Mar 27, 2018 | American University
Term limits and mainly their removal has been widely sought after in African politics. From 1990-2009, twenty-four presidents of varying countries attempted a constitutional amendment and twelve...
Threats to Nigerian Democracy: The Discussion on the Resource Curse by Andre’ James Thomas @ American University
Mar 27, 2018 | American University
Nigeria, when one eyeballs the data, should be an African Powerhouse and maybe even poster example for the possibilities of the eradication of poverty, health issues, literacy rates and a weak...
Political Protests a mechanism to Democratic Recovery: March for Life by Woeser Dolma @ Skidmore College
Mar 27, 2018 | Skidmore College
On March 25th, I attended the March for our lives protest in New York City. March for life’s mission is to embrace and protect individual’s life. This campaign has seen massive national support as a...
At Centennial of Belarusian Independence, Authoritarianism Remains Strong in Minsk By Victoria Hill @ American University
Mar 27, 2018 | American University
March 25th marked the 100th anniversary of Belarusian People’s Republic. It was a short-lived political entity, only in existence from 1918 to 1919, though a government-in-exile still remains. For...
Did President Trump’s Praises of the Stock Market Cause it to Dip? by Maryam Kilani @ Georgia State University
Mar 27, 2018 | Georgia State University
There is no question that since Trump was elected, the stock market has experienced a feeling of ecstasy. Trump announced during his state of the union address that over his tenure as...