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.

How far is too far for South Korea’s presidential pardons?

South Korea’s presidential pardons raise questions on accountability, especially in the aftermath of Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law.

How tolerating and encouraging violence fuels democratic backsliding in Georgia

During the past demonstrations, the ruling party of Georgia – Georgian Dream – made violence their primary weapon in overcoming protest. This blog emphasizes how violence used by the state implies democratic backsliding in light of the theoretical framework by Levistsky and Ziblatt.

Repression on Repeat: From Kyiv to Minsk to Tbilisi

Repression on Repeat: From Kyiv to Minsk to Tbilisi Last October, parliamentary elections were held in Georgia. Many considered them as important as a referendum because Georgian citizens were asked to choose between the ruling Georgian Dream, a Euroskeptic...

The Battle for Free and Fair Elections in Ghana: Electoral Irregularities and Growing Unrest

Nov 4, 2024 | Ohio State University

Ghana, often hailed as a model of democracy in West Africa, now faces a serious challenge to its electoral processes and democratic institutions. Ahead of the country’s...

Silenced Voices: Singapore’s Government Continues to Target Media

Nov 4, 2024 | Ohio State University

The utilization of POFMA, legislation that allows government officials to punish news media that do not abide by its rules and restrictions, adds to numerous other media...

Gender inequality decline the Democracy in India

Oct 23, 2023 | School of Public Policy, Chiang Mai University

Democracy is not merely a form of government but also a way of life, an order of society, a way of social and economic relations, and above all, a belief system (Saikia & Baruah, 2012). Thus,...

Democracy Backsliding and Myanmar Migrants in Thailand

Oct 23, 2023 | School of Public Policy, Chiang Mai University

Myanmar experience long lasting civil war and many people escape to the neighboring countries to find safety life and seek to refuges. According to the International Labor Organization report in...

What the Exodus of Election Officials Means for Democratic Erosion

Oct 22, 2023 | University of Pennsylvania

Amid growing violent threats and increasing administrative burdens, a surge in resignations among local election officials signals trouble for U.S. democracy. In the aftermath of the 2020 election,...

Populism’s Erosion of Israeli Politics: A Müller Analysis of Benjamin Netanyahu’s Impact

Oct 18, 2023 | Boston University

In his book "What is Populism," Jan-Werner Müller presents a nuanced definition of populism that emphasizes its anti-pluralist, exclusionary nature and appeal to the chosen people against a corrupt...

The Threat of Extreme Partisanship in the Post-Trump Era: Warnings from the Ouster of Kevin McCarthy

Oct 18, 2023 | Boston University

On October 3rd, 2023, Kevin McCarthy was removed as Speaker of the House of Representatives in a 216-210 vote, becoming the first person in American history to ever be removed from the position. ...

India’s Free Speech Censorship is Ruining Democracy

Oct 17, 2023 | Boston University

India’s democratic backsliding has been a topic of concern for many decades. However, in recent years, the censorship of free speech in particular has led to detrimental social consequences,...

American Democracy and The Supreme Court

Oct 17, 2023 | Boston University

With recent discussion in the news surrounding the potential adoption of an “ethics code” or other code of conduct for the US Supreme Court, the question of its role in US democracy is once again a...

Guatemalan mass protests question if populism is all bad

Oct 17, 2023 | Boston University

On October 2nd, mass citizen protests erupted in Guatemala related to Attorney General Maria Consuelo Porras’s efforts to undermine the results of the country’s recent presidential election in favor...

The COVID-19 Pandemic and the Rise of Right-Wing Populism: Democratic Erosion in Spain, Italy, and Sweden

Oct 17, 2023 | Boston University

The COVID-19 pandemic has globally affected many things, one of which is the powers that hold congressional power in many countries. Many countries with democracies or core democratic elements, such...