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.

The Rise of a Dictator and Fall of a People– The Rise of Corruption and Collapse of Civil Society in Serbia

Jun 10, 2022 | University of California, San Diego

Since the rise to power of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and their leader Aleksandar Vučić, democracy and any dream of Western values and lifestyle has eroded away...

The Left’s Case Against the Disinformation Board

Jun 10, 2022 | University of California, San Diego

The DHS secretary Alejandro Mayorkas was the first made the public aware the new disinformation board during a house subcommittee hearing in April. The White House Press...

“South Korea, the Timely Greenhouse for Populism” by Jaeyoon Min @UCLA

Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

When the candlelight vigil had finally led to the impeachment of South Korea’s 18th president, Park Geun-hye, its people staged to the world that their democracy prevails. However, the 2016 Park...

Italy First? A Big Win for Populism in Italy by Anais Lopez @ University of California, Los Angeles

Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

Last year, Luigi Di Maio, leader of the Five-Star Movement (M5S), a far-right populist party in Italy, stated, “The only possibility for the other parties is to support a Five Star government. We...

What Went Wrong in Burundi by Isaiah Holmes @ University of California, Los Angeles

Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

The crisis in Burundi started in April of 2015 when the President of Burundi, Pierre Nkurunziza, decided to stand for a third term in office. The problem that everyone had with him standing for a...

A TURKISH TRAGEDY by JONAH KAY @ UCLA

Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

A Turkish Tragedy Recent actions taken by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have put the country in the spotlight due to the proliferate democratic erosion that has been unfolding....

Democracy not doing so well in Italy, can the Fascists win? by Leslie Gonzalez @ UCLA

Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

Italy just had their political election and it did not go so well for the far left wing. Italy is at a political deadlock because groups such as Five-Star Movement received as many votes as the left...

Poland: Eastern Europe’s Trendsetter? by Justin Van Beurden @ University of California, Los Angeles

Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

Once viewed as a source of inspiration for countries transitioning to democracy, Poland now appears as if it is representative of another political trend in Eastern Europe: democratic backsliding....

Populism in Greece by Carolina Armenta @ University of California, Los Angeles

Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

Populism emerged in Greece for many reasons. The increase in refugees and government overspending of the nation's money to name the two biggest reasons. Greece is a country that does not put the...

KENYA’S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION EXEMPLIFIES THEIR DETERIORATION OF DEMOCRACY BY KEVIN KENDALL @ UCLA

Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

Kenya's politics are public, equal, and free. In 1991, the transformation from a single party to a multiparty democracy was one of the biggest changes within their country. Kenya went from having...

Is it the End of Democracy for Cambodia? by Abigail Valdez @ University of California Los Angeles

Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

On February 2017, the Cambodian People’s Party amended the Law on Political Parties to automatically dissolve any political party whose leader has criminal convictions [1]. The passing of this...