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.

Will Estonia Continue to be a Beacon of Democracy?

Jun 9, 2022 | University of California, San Diego

The Coronavirus posed a challenge to government’s world wide and response in Estonia was considered to be quick, effective and generally approved by the public. Like many...

From Tragedy to Disinformation, from Disinformation to Misinformation, From Misinformation to Threats: How Transphobia Threatened Three Separate Women’s Safety in the Wake of the Uvalde Shooting

Jun 9, 2022 | University of California, San Diego

What does the current fixation of Republicans on Trans rights have to do with a School Shooting? In the case of the recent mass shooting in Uvalde, nothing on the surface....

The Working People’s Day of Action by Jamie O’Neill at Ohio State University

Mar 9, 2018 | Ohio State University

I attended the 2018 Working People’s Day of Action. It is a national event that takes place in about 15 cities in the U.S. and is a day committed to the goal of “standing up for the freedom of...

Planned Parenthood’s Continued Resistance is Encouragingly Strategic by Madeleine Haas @ Ohio State University

Mar 9, 2018 | Ohio State University

The success of our democracy is predicated upon the civil debate and civic engagement of our people. Thus, the existence of organizations that challenge the parties and politicians in power is a...

Opening Democratic Discourse: Socialist Activism as an Antidote to Alienation in a Two-Party System by Sarah Stradling @ Ohio State University

Mar 9, 2018 | Ohio State University

What started out as a few young students setting up a ring of church folding chairs slowly turned into a crowded circle of Columbus community members. They were all there to attend a weekly...

Civic Engagement as a Building Block for a Greater Resistance Movement by Abby Nutter @ Ohio State University

Mar 8, 2018 | Ohio State University

In light of the election of President Trump there has been an increase in participation in civil society groups that resist the president’s agenda. This expansion of participation has been met with...

The Parkland Youth Are Succeeding. So Can Black Lives Matter. By Thomas Baumgarten @ Ohio State University

Mar 8, 2018 | Ohio State University

Protests and social movements are centerpieces of American democracy. In the past, certain rights for women, blacks, and gays and lesbians were all attained through the process of successful...

“SURJ”ing Ahead for Democracy by Ron Fornaro @ Ohio State University

Mar 8, 2018 | Ohio State University

Polarization is a real threat to democracy[1], and civic groups like Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) can play an important role in closing the gap between groups by trying to correct polarized...

Are all non-violent protests effective? by Ricky Cutlip @ Ohio State University

Mar 8, 2018 | Ohio State University

Erica Chenoweth argues that non-violent protests are more effective than violent ones in her protesting Donald Trump article. With this in mind, is a certain type of non-violent protest better than...

The Power of Protest: Democratic Strength Displayed at the Cleveland Women’s March by Cassandra Dula @ The Ohio State University

Mar 8, 2018 | Ohio State University

“Where do I even start?” This is what read on a large sign at the 2018 Cleveland Women’s March, fashioned out of a piece of cardboard and written in bold, black letters. On January 20th, hundreds of...

Lessons from a Safe Conversation about Race by Garrett Rethman @ Ohio State University

Mar 8, 2018 | Ohio State University

On Thursday, March 1st, the Bexley Public Library held the final discussion in the series Safe Conversations about Race. The program had a lofty goal, with a mission “to increase levels of...