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...

Viktor Orbán and the GOP

Oct 19, 2022 | SUNY-Binghamton

On August 4, 2022, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of Hungary gave a speech in Dallas, Texas—by his own admission “more than five thousand miles” from his homeland—and was met...

Democratic Backsliding in the United States: Gerrymandering Issue

Oct 18, 2022 | Boston University

What is Gerrymandering? Gerrymandering is an issue that has not only stretched through US history in different ways but is something that continues to be a problem in the...

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...

The Possibility of Democratic Erosion in Spain and Catalonia by Potee Robinson @ Georgia State University

Apr 24, 2018 | Georgia State University

Catalonia once was its own autonomous entity with its own customs, language, laws, however this all began to change in the 18th Century with King Felipe V of Spain. Spain had control of the...