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.

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...

From Stardom to Senate: The Alarming Trend of Celebrity Politics in the Philippines

The intersection of celebrity and politics in the Philippines is nothing new. The phenomenon of celebrity politicians—actors, athletes, and other public figures who go from the big screen or stage to the corridors of power—has become a defining aspect of the country's...

Continued Threats and Erosion of Democracy in Poland

Oct 14, 2022 | SUNY-Binghamton

On July 12, 2020 incumbent Polish President Andrzej Duda won the second round of the presidential elections with 51.0% of the popular vote (BBC, 2020). Duda had first been...

South Korea’s Candlelit Revolution and a New President – A Case in Democratic Backsliding

Oct 13, 2022 | Ohio State University

When considering democratic backsliding, South Korea’s case is not necessarily the one with the most backsliding, but it is important to consider. While the Candlelit...

Erdogan’s Empire: A Case Study of democratic backsliding in Turkey by Jacob Awrabi @ University of California, Los Angeles

Mar 14, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

When examining democratic erosion, a prime example of a brief case study is that of Turkey. Through an array of authoritarian tactics, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has increasingly...

A Nail in Ataturk’s Coffin by Shravan Balaji @ University of Pennsylvania

Mar 14, 2018 | University of Pennsylvania

On April 16, 2017, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Justice and Development Party (AKP) celebrated the passage of their landmark Constitutional referendum by a margin of 51.4% to 48.6%. 85% of...

Democratic Erosion From Brexit by Kenneth Rollins @ University of California, Los Angeles

Mar 14, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

The United Kingdom shocked the world in the summer of 2016 when they decided to leave the European Union, commonly known as Brexit. This event could be a sign of democratic erosion. Recent studies...

Erosion of Democracy from Catalonia: Is this the beginning of the end for a democratic solution to the Catalan Crisis? by Cole Kinder @ University of California, Los Angeles

Mar 13, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

We like to think of Western European nations and the European Union as entities that uphold the fundamental rights of humanity and democracy. We grow up thinking that in Western Europe, the people...

Democratic Erosion University Course Student Blog

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

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

From Stardom to Senate: The Alarming Trend of Celebrity Politics in the Philippines

Continued Threats and Erosion of Democracy in Poland

South Korea’s Candlelit Revolution and a New President – A Case in Democratic Backsliding

Erdogan’s Empire: A Case Study of democratic backsliding in Turkey by Jacob Awrabi @ University of California, Los Angeles

A Nail in Ataturk’s Coffin by Shravan Balaji @ University of Pennsylvania

Democratic Erosion From Brexit by Kenneth Rollins @ University of California, Los Angeles

Erosion of Democracy from Catalonia: Is this the beginning of the end for a democratic solution to the Catalan Crisis? by Cole Kinder @ University of California, Los Angeles

Poland Democratic Erosion by Trevor Wolff @ University of California, Los Angeles

Is Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro a Dictator? by Michael Townsend at University of California, Los Angeles

The Democratic Tipping Point in Slovakia by Emma Shahabi @ UCLA

Hungary for Power by Narmeen Mundh @ University of California, Los Angeles

A New World Order? How China’s Abolishment of Presidential Term Limits Might Become the Norm for Global Democracy

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