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.

First 100 Days, More Like First 100 Hours: How Trump’s First 100 Days Played Out Against Trump’s Second 100 Hours

Indiana Senator Jim Banks, a staunch Trump ally, predicted that President Trump’s return to power would be characterized by “shock and awe.” In many ways, the events of President Trump’s first 100 hours in office during his second term have lived up to that promise....

History Repeats: Why Strong Global Defense is Key to Preventing Autocracy

A strong and consistent global defense by democratic nations is crucial to preventing the rise of autocratic regimes, as history shows—from the Cold War doctrines to the failed democratization of Afghanistan—that without committed follow-through and structural reform, authoritarian forces will exploit weaknesses and reclaim power.

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...

Working Towards Building An Inclusive Democracy

Oct 20, 2022 | Suffolk University

“The 2020 Annual Freedom House Report finds that democracy, civil liberties, freedom, minority rights, and pluralism have been in decline globally for 14 consecutive years,...

The New GOP: Small-Government to Anti-Government

Oct 20, 2022 | Suffolk University

“I’m scared, Cameron. Things never used to be like this. They were never great but they’ve never been this bad.” This was my mom’s reaction to watching the news coverage of...

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...

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...

Countering Media Hegemony: The Perspective of Propaganda by Michelle Sto. Tomas @ University of the Philippines, Diliman

May 1, 2018 | University of the Philippines, Diliman

The purpose of hegemony of Antonio Gramsci to originally create discourse on the domination of the ruling elites to preserve power and control has evolved to how mass media have been used to...