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.
You Can’t Sit with Us: The Practice of Democratic Gatekeeping and How It Has Saved Democracies
The Erosion of an Already Weak Democracy: The Rise and Fall of Jovenel Moïse
Undermining the Feedback Loop: How Trump’s Educational Policies Hinder Democratic Accountability
Democratic Backsliding in Mali? 
Oct 14, 2022 | Ohio State University
While democratic backsliding has become a question in some of the world’s biggest and most successful...
Is It Too Late to Stop Guatemalan Corruption?
Oct 14, 2022 | Ohio State University
Corruption runs rampant in Guatemala - and the destruction of human rights is on its path. Recent years under Guatemala’s last two presidents, Jimmy Morales (2016-20) and...
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 backsliding within Turkey
Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles
Democratic backsliding occurs when there is a disconnection between government officials and the people in which the population is made up of. There are many different variations of misconduct that...
Egypt’s Presidential Election: Will Democracy Survive? Will a Frankenstate Rise? by Sabrina Amaya @ UCLA
Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles
During the last nine years Egypt’s government has transitioned from a dictatorship to a presidential-parliamentary system. In 2011, Egyptians decided to remove then President Hosni Mubarak who had...
Il Canto del Populista by Justin Ambrosio @ University of California, Los Angeles
Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles
On March 4, 2018, a mainstream populist party founded by a comedian won the most seats in the Italian parliamentary election. The Five Star Movement garnered 32.22% of the votes, trailed by the...
Xi Jipig: President of China for Life
Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles
Xi Jinping, President of China, has made huge efforts to consolidate his power within the Chinese Communist Party. These efforts include an massive anti-corruption campaign, stricter internet...
Third Term could Mean further Democratic Backsliding for Hungary by Flor Figueroa @University California, Los Angeles
Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles
In the wake of the elections in Hungary, there are one of two things that could happen. Viktor Orban could win his third consecutive term as prime minister, continuing his reign of diminishing...
Kenya Civil and Political Liberties Jeopardized?
Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles
Recent events in Kenya have prompted the country to peril in chaos. News of a supposed unfair election has the country on the brink of ruins after the runner-up Raila Odinga cries of an unfair loss...
A Facade: Is Indonesia Really Becoming More Democratic? by Danielle Wilkerson @ University of California Los Angeles
Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles
At face value the regimes which have followed The New Order have done an outstanding job at creating a state in which democracy is at the center. Upon a closer look, there are some red flags which...
ANIKA RODRIGUEZ @ UCLA
Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles
For my blog post i have decided to analyze and discuss the issue of the Catalan government in spain. The Catalan Government in the fall of 2017 decided they wanted to declare independence from...