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.

These blogs reflect the views of the student authors, and not those of the Democratic Erosion Consortium.

First 100 Days, More Like First 100 Hours: How Trump’s First 100 Days Played Out Against Trump’s Second 100 Hours

Indiana Senator Jim Banks, a staunch Trump ally, predicted that President Trump’s return to power would be characterized by “shock and awe.” In many ways, the events of President Trump’s first 100 hours in office during his second term have lived up to that promise....

History Repeats: Why Strong Global Defense is Key to Preventing Autocracy

A strong and consistent global defense by democratic nations is crucial to preventing the rise of autocratic regimes, as history shows—from the Cold War doctrines to the failed democratization of Afghanistan—that without committed follow-through and structural reform, authoritarian forces will exploit weaknesses and reclaim power.

Women in Political Dynasties: The Illusion of Choice and Democratic Erosion in the Philippines

Political dynasties have long controlled Philippine politics, with powerful families passing down leadership positions across generations. Despite the imposition of term limits discouraging dynastic rule, these families have found their way around the constitutional...

Trump’s Role In Creating Anti-Democratic Norms

Oct 16, 2022 | Boston University

Trump's speech on January 6th, 2021 Trump's Role In Creating Anti-Democratic Norms US democracy is in jeopardy due to the Republican party's appeasement and pandering to far...

US Democracy: Racism Has Always Been the Problem

Oct 16, 2022 | Boston University

Republican rallies supporting candidates for the upcoming US midterm elections have campaigned on increasingly blatant racist rhetoric. Some media outlets have claimed that...

Is Mexico Next to Succumb to Democratic Erosion? by Donyea Grayson @University of California Los Angeles

Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

Mexico's presidential election is right around the corner. July 1st, 2018 is when general elections take place and this could completely change the future of Mexico and its many citizens. At...

Democratic Ethio-rosion

Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

From the beginning of democratization in Ethiopia until present, the government has experienced viable democratic erosion simply by displaying a weak commitment to democratic rules of the game....

Is The Rise of The Five Star Movement in Italy Eroding Democracy?

Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

Populism in Europe has been on the rise in recent years, especially in countries like Poland, Germany, the UK and France. Italy has become the latest country to join that list after its recent...

“Democratic Erosion in Venezuela” by Audrey Rogers @ The University of California, Los Angeles

Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

Democracy in South and Latin America has been eroding over the past couple of decades. Particularly, Venezuela has become more obvious about their active erosion of their democratic state. Maduro...

“General Election in Kenya Creates a Shaky Democracy” by Esther Ekwueme @ University of California, Los Angeles.

Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

Fall of 2017 up until today has been a very interesting political period for Kenya as a country and its people. In August of 2017 a general election was held where the "current" president,...

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...