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...

Purging Democracy: Voter Roll Purges and the Undermining of US Democracy

Oct 14, 2022 | Boston University

From 2014 to 2016, 16 million voters were removed from voter registration lists. Voter roll purges keep voting rolls accurate by canceling the registration of people who...

Italy’s Populist Experiment

Oct 14, 2022 | Boston University

The election of Italy's Giorgia Meloni brings to light decades old tensions between technocracy and democracy within EU countries. On September 26, 2022, Giorgia Meloni,...

A Single Referendum in Turkey by Julia Robinson @ University of California, Los Angeles

Mar 12, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

The recent referendum passed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey will lead to long term democratic backsliding. The redistribution of power to the executive office, the dissolution of checks...

The Orban Road to Autocracy by Lasini Piyadigama @ University of California, Los Angeles

Mar 12, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

Democratic backsliding is the process of democratic countries moving away from the fundamental ideas of democracy, like free and fair elections, strong rule of law and freedom of speech. This...

Possibility of Democratic Backsliding in Slovakia by Mouthcheata Se @ University of California, Los Angeles

Mar 12, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

On March 2nd, 2018, approximately 20,000 Slovak protestors gathered in the Bratislava's Freedom Square to mourn and demand justice for a journalist named Jan Kuciak and his fiancée, Martina...

Millennials, Politics, and Polarization: How the Nature of Modern Youth Political Participation May Contribute to Democratic Erosion by Shravan Balaji @ University of Pennsylvania

Mar 11, 2018 | University of Pennsylvania

During the last weekend of February, I took it upon myself to return to my home state of New Jersey to attend an general meeting of our county’s “Young Democrats” meeting. A friend of mine with whom...

Democracy on Display at the 2018 Women’s March on Philadelphia by Rachel Pomerantz @ University of Pennsylvania

Mar 11, 2018 | University of Pennsylvania

As the follow-up to what was likely the largest single-day demonstration in American history, the first anniversary of the Women’s March had high expectations. Occurring last year on the first full...

Potential Insidious Polarization, as Evidenced by Candidate Gonzalez’s Campaign Event by Matthew Graff @ The University of Pennsylvania

Mar 11, 2018 | University of Pennsylvania

Texas House of Representatives candidate Jessica Gonzalez, running for District 104, seemed to be an excellent political candidate. I had the opportunity to attend one of her campaign events, and...

Democratic Erosion University Course Student Blog

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

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

Purging Democracy: Voter Roll Purges and the Undermining of US Democracy

Italy’s Populist Experiment

A Single Referendum in Turkey by Julia Robinson @ University of California, Los Angeles

The Orban Road to Autocracy by Lasini Piyadigama @ University of California, Los Angeles

Possibility of Democratic Backsliding in Slovakia by Mouthcheata Se @ University of California, Los Angeles

Millennials, Politics, and Polarization: How the Nature of Modern Youth Political Participation May Contribute to Democratic Erosion by Shravan Balaji @ University of Pennsylvania

Democracy on Display at the 2018 Women’s March on Philadelphia by Rachel Pomerantz @ University of Pennsylvania

Potential Insidious Polarization, as Evidenced by Candidate Gonzalez’s Campaign Event by Matthew Graff @ The University of Pennsylvania

Hungary’s “Dictator” Viktor Orban by Margaret Borse @ University of California, Los Angeles

Who is Fighting Democratic Erosion at the Local Level? By Jackson Schumacher @ The Ohio State University

On Campus Abortion Protests: A Study in Polarization by William Weber @ The Ohio State University

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