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.

Possible Effects of Russia’s Recognition of Kosovo on Serbia’s Democracy

Jun 11, 2022 | Koç University

International relations have always reminded me of dominoes. When we consider the bigger picture, a seemingly insignificant event or policy can have a significant influence....

Brazil: A Case of Systematic Police Brutality

Jun 11, 2022 | Koç University

Protests against Police Violence in Rio De Janeiro Aggressive and dehumanizing policing tactics adopted by the Security forces in Rio de Janeiro have led to nationwide...

The Spanish Dilemma by Jashan Kashyap @University of California, Los Angeles

Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

For many people in the Catalan region, the central government of Spain is viewed as a foreign institution. In many ways, the Catalans’ views are correct. Catalonia is known to be a cultural and...

How President Maduro is Changing Venezuela’s Once Thriving Democracy into an Autocracy: The Death of Democracy in Venezuela by Osny Calderon @ University of California, Los Angeles

Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

Following the death of extremely popular president of Venezuela Hugo Chavez in 2013, his vice president and handpicked successor Nicolás Maduro was appointed and later narrowly elected President...

The Unraveling of the Polish Courts, Another Potential Step Towards Democratic Backsliding by Benjamin Lee @ University of California, Los Angeles

Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

On January 15, 2018, Dariusz Zawistowski, the president of Poland's National Council of the Judiciary (KRS), the body in charge of maintaining the impartiality of Polish courts, resigned from his...

Italy and Their Ongoing Struggle by Armida Reyes @ University of California, Los Angeles

Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

There are many different events happening all around the world at the moment that affect people on the daily whether through politics or economics. Italy is currently going through some political...

The Migrant Crisis in Venezuela and How It Relates to Democratic Erosion by Karla Aparicio @ University of California Los Angeles

Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

It is no secret that Venezuela’s economic and political worlds have been at a breaking point for some time. Economic downfalls and crises lead to uncertainty within its citizens in the 1980’s....

Democratic Erosion University Course Student Blog

Donald Trump the Nazi Reincarnate?: Godwin’s Law and How This Phenomenon is Counterproductive to Understanding Democratic Erosion

The Russia-Ukraine War Bodes Poorly for Democracy, But Not in the Way You Think

The Trump Administration’s Attack on USAID

Possible Effects of Russia’s Recognition of Kosovo on Serbia’s Democracy

Brazil: A Case of Systematic Police Brutality

The Spanish Dilemma by Jashan Kashyap @University of California, Los Angeles

How President Maduro is Changing Venezuela’s Once Thriving Democracy into an Autocracy: The Death of Democracy in Venezuela by Osny Calderon @ University of California, Los Angeles

The Unraveling of the Polish Courts, Another Potential Step Towards Democratic Backsliding by Benjamin Lee @ University of California, Los Angeles

Italy and Their Ongoing Struggle by Armida Reyes @ University of California, Los Angeles

The Migrant Crisis in Venezuela and How It Relates to Democratic Erosion by Karla Aparicio @ University of California Los Angeles

Democratic backsliding within Turkey

Egypt’s Presidential Election: Will Democracy Survive? Will a Frankenstate Rise? by Sabrina Amaya @ UCLA

Il Canto del Populista by Justin Ambrosio @ University of California, Los Angeles

Xi Jipig: President of China for Life

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