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.

Demagogues: Turning America into the Child Left Behind

The emergence of technofascist demagogues in American politics pose a significant threat to democracy and education, highlighting the urgent need for critical thinking and informed choices to protect the nation’s future.

Trump’s Evolved Form of Populism Works… and Hurts.

President Donald Trump’s second term in office has brought forth a more evolved form of populism; by incorporating authoritarian methods of governing with populist tactics, Trump is doing significant damage to America’s democracy.

The Judicial Branch’s Downfall

By ruling with bias, the Judicial Branch is overstepping its constitutional role and threatening the integrity of our separation of powers and system of checks and balances.

Drought Unlikely to Spark Democratization in Iran

Aug 31, 2022 | Dartmouth College

Over the past two years, large protests for clean drinking water spread throughout drought-stricken Iran. The protests, deemed the Uprising of the Thirsty, were largely...

El Salvador: Authoritarianism Gone Viral

Aug 31, 2022 | Dartmouth College

Presidential election results in El Salvador, the tiny, Latin American nation may seem to be trivial to most Americans. This outlook, however, is far from the truth....

China No Chance of Developing Democracy By Jarron Silva, University of California, Los Angeles

Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

Pre Xi Jinping In recent years, when Hu Jintao was in power, there was some hope that China would be able to become a democracy. In fact, Hu and others pushed for china to become one. This is seen...

A Case Study of South Korea Rise and Fall in Anti-corruption Combats by Haocheng Bi @ University of California, Los Angeles

Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

In late October 2016, Jay Y. Lee, the head of Samsung South Korea’s largest conglomerate, was reported to "have bribed totaling more than $36 million" to Choi Soon-sil, a long-time friend of...

Polish Democracy in Peril by Eric Sangret @ University of California, Los Angeles

Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

Democratic backsliding is increasingly becoming a concern in Eastern Europe, with some countries being issued harsh warnings from the European Union (EU). In the last three years, Poland has seen...

An Analysis of Democratic Erosion in Turkey by Joe Neuheisel @ UCLA

Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

How can democracies survive and flourish? The question is interesting because so few have survived over the course of history. Our United States of America is a shining example of a democracy...

IMMIGRATION HELPS DEFINE OUR DEMOCRACY BY AINSLEE PRECIADO @ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA- LOS ANGELES

Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

The immigration issue is a highly debated topic in the world today. People are moving from their homes for a myriad of reasons including but not limited to economic and health problems, wars and...

The Xi Dynasty Begins: China’s Xi Jinping Becomes Leader for Life By Blake Kazarian @ University of California, Los Angeles

Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

In a historic vote, China's legislative body, the National People's Congress, voted to get rid of presidential term limits. The vote took place in Beijing's Great Hall of the People and resulted in...

Democratic Erosion University Course Student Blog

Demagogues: Turning America into the Child Left Behind

Trump’s Evolved Form of Populism Works… and Hurts.

The Judicial Branch’s Downfall

Drought Unlikely to Spark Democratization in Iran

El Salvador: Authoritarianism Gone Viral

China No Chance of Developing Democracy By Jarron Silva, University of California, Los Angeles

A Case Study of South Korea Rise and Fall in Anti-corruption Combats by Haocheng Bi @ University of California, Los Angeles

Polish Democracy in Peril by Eric Sangret @ University of California, Los Angeles

An Analysis of Democratic Erosion in Turkey by Joe Neuheisel @ UCLA

IMMIGRATION HELPS DEFINE OUR DEMOCRACY BY AINSLEE PRECIADO @ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA- LOS ANGELES

The Xi Dynasty Begins: China’s Xi Jinping Becomes Leader for Life By Blake Kazarian @ University of California, Los Angeles

Democratic erosion in the Philippines

Brexit And The Evident Signs of Democratic Erosion. By Austin Roberts @ University of California Los Angeles

Implications of Foreign Intervention Through Syrian Sanctions by Pallavi Adapa @ University of California, Los Angeles

Join Our Listserv