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.

These blogs reflect the views of the student authors, and not those of the Democratic Erosion Consortium.

Women in Political Dynasties: The Illusion of Choice and Democratic Erosion in the Philippines

Political dynasties have long controlled Philippine politics, with powerful families passing down leadership positions across generations. Despite the imposition of term limits discouraging dynastic rule, these families have found their way around the constitutional...

From Stardom to Senate: The Alarming Trend of Celebrity Politics in the Philippines

The intersection of celebrity and politics in the Philippines is nothing new. The phenomenon of celebrity politicians—actors, athletes, and other public figures who go from the big screen or stage to the corridors of power—has become a defining aspect of the country's...

Strong Parental Guidance?: How Film Censorship in the Philippines Affects Democracy

While cinema is often dismissed as mere entertainment, censoring it poses significant threats to information accessibility and, by extension, to democracy.

The Erosion of the Democratic Facade

Oct 17, 2022 | Boston University

The ratification of the Charter of the United Nations in 1945 ushered in a new era of international relations, worldwide cooperation, and the international prioritization of...

The Consequences of Populism: Evo Morales and the 2019 Bolivian Crisis

Oct 17, 2022 | Boston University

Bolivia is often overshadowed by its neighboring countries– Brazil to the east, Chile to the west, and Argentina to the south. Similar to these countries, Bolivia...

Is Social Media Threat to Democracy? by Santosh K. Digal @ University of the Philippines, Diliman

Apr 29, 2018 | University of the Philippines, Diliman

We live in a digital world. "The use of social media has become ubiquitous, unlike before. The ease of use and constant accessibility is changing our social network and reshaping our political...

Crashing Through Democratic Guardrails by Jake Farris @American University

Apr 27, 2018 | American University

Guardrails of democracy ensure that everyone plays on the same field by creating an environment of general respect. One of the most important of these guardrails is mutual toleration. For the...

No More Parking Lot Gun Sales

Apr 27, 2018 | Georgia State University

The second amendment of the Bill of Rights does cause much controversy today. In modern American politics there are debates to abolish the second amendment, keep it unaltered,...

An Interesting Discussion about Immigration by Jonathan Gadea @ Georgia State University

Apr 27, 2018 | Georgia State University

I will be writing about my experience in class discussing the issue of immigration, among my fellow classmates. It was a very interesting experience. I found that almost everybody in the group had...

A First-Hand Account of Gun Control Compromise

Apr 27, 2018 | Georgia State University

American politics is dominated by the hot button issue mentality. In America’s political climate there is a divisiveness that draws a line between groups of citizens when it comes to certain issues,...

Can the Curtain Really Lift Over North Korea? by Dominique Kren @ American University

Apr 27, 2018 | American University

Sixty-five years ago, the Korean war was paused with a ceasefire, bringing about almost seven decades of intense hostility between the North and the South who, technically, have never ended the war...

March for Science from ad hoc protest to International Grassroots Movement -Soli Gebremichael @American University

Apr 26, 2018 | American University

I attended both March for Science (MFS) rallies in 2017 and 2018. This year’s March was conducted on April 14th, sunny Saturday, perfect to be in outdoors. The organizers invited more than 18...

“it will not purify unless it is filthy”- Short Story of Resistance in Ethiopia -Soli Gebremichael @American University

Apr 26, 2018 | American University

Ethiopia is a country in the horn of Africa that failed under communist military junta even though it successfully conducted a revolution that toppled the 42 years old monarch in 1974. It took 17...