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 are student blog posts written by student participants in the Democratic Erosion Course. These posts were not written by nor represent the views of the Democratic Erosion Consortium.

Food Security is Rooted Abroad

Global fertilizer supply chains connect geopolitical events abroad to food production at home in ways most consumers don’t see.

The Meaning of Silence : What the moment of silence for Melissa Hortman says about American democracy

On June 14, 2025, the lives of Melissa Hortman who was a House speaker in Minnesota and her husband Mark were taken in what authorities believe to be a politically motivated act of violence. The same day Senator John Hoffman and his wife were also shot and...

Buying Injustice: The Hidden Harms of this Act.

Are we looking to create a thriving society, or are we allowing fear into the lives of immigrant families? As new immigration policies appear, the question become, how do we prevent the changes that involve separating families and dismantling the place that...

Did the USA Patriot Act Cause Democratic Backsliding in the US?

Nov 21, 2023 | University of Memphis

Following the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States’ World Trade Center in New York City, New...

Zimbabwe: A Democracy in Crisis?

Nov 21, 2023 | University of Memphis

BLOG POST When it comes to democracy in the modern world, Zimbabawe’s democratic system finds itself in a precariously unique position where it seeks to find a balance...

How Britain’s Farewell to the EU Threatens the Irish Peace Process – by Brady Mokrzycki

Feb 13, 2019 | Boston University

On May 22nd 1998, a referendum determined that a majority of Northern Ireland’s population wished to remain a part of the United Kingdom. The Good Friday Agreement between the governments of...

The Democratic System in Today’s Political Climate

Feb 13, 2019 | Boston University

The increasing polarization in the American two-party system may be a step towards democratic erosion. By Adelyn Davidson The democratic system was adopted in the United States to unite the nation...

The Specter of Voter Fraud: Donald Trump and the Delegitimization of Election Integrity by Benjamin Wuesthoff

Feb 13, 2019 | Boston University

During the final Presidential debate of the 2016 election, then candidate Donald Trump alarmed pundits and politicians alike as he declined to confirm whether or not he would accept the results of...

Serbia’s democratic backsliding sees no end in sight by Ryan Stolz

Feb 13, 2019 | Boston University

Within the past few days, Serbia has been downgraded by democracy watchdog Freedom House from a “free” country to a “partly free” country. This decision by Freedom House is no surprise as Serbia and...

Ivory Coast’s Democratic Transgression by Dylan Gleeman

Feb 13, 2019 | Boston University

Ivory Coast is in a clearly defined erosion of their democracy. Democratic erosion is a gradual process that transpires when elected leaders progressively undermine democracy. Oftentimes, it is...

Nigerian President’s Recent Actions and Electoral Opposition Indicate Likely Decline of Democracy by Nick Cook

Feb 13, 2019 | Boston University

As Nigerians prepare to cast votes for the presidency, recent actions by sitting President Muhammadu Buhari and the history of his main electoral opposition, Atiku Abubakar, indicate that democracy...

Hungary’s Democracy on Paper Is a Danger to Europe by Daniel Abramson

Feb 13, 2019 | Boston University

This past week, Freedom House published its annual report on the status of democracy around the world. In the Freedom in the World...

Why The Shutdown is Only the Beginning by Amber Chan

Feb 13, 2019 | Boston University

For over 35 days, the state of the United States was in limbo. From December 22nd until January 25th, the longest government shutdown was a stand-off between Congress and President Trump, mainly...

Stealth Authoritarianism in Practice: Cambodia’s Failed Democracy by Huy Do

Feb 12, 2019 | Boston University

On January 7, 2019, thousands of Cambodians gathered to celebrate the 40th Victory Day, the annual celebration of the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime. At the forefront of this momentous event, Prime...