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.

The Erosion of an Already Weak Democracy: The Rise and Fall of Jovenel Moïse

Jovenel Moïse's presidency marked a dangerous shift from Haiti's already shaky democracy to overt authoritarianism. Delayed elections, unchecked abuse of executive power, and violent suppression of resistance became the norm. By the time of his assassination in 2021,...

Undermining the Feedback Loop: How Trump’s Educational Policies Hinder Democratic Accountability

In a larger trend of censoring opinions which the Trump administration views as undesirable, the Trump administration’s actions towards schools and universities has a negative impact on democracy as a whole. Such a system depends on the free transmission of...

Democracy Six Feet Under: How Disinformation is Burying Philippine Democracy Alive

Philippine democracy is in great danger once again now that the two families who benefited the most from disinformation – the Marcoses and Dutertes, are in power and have turned against one another. As both camps sling disinformation against each other, the...

How Did We Get to January 6th?

Sep 30, 2022 | Ohio State University

January 6th was a complete disregard for democratic institutions and processes, but how did we reach that point? How did so many United States citizens get to the point...

Drawing Lines: Redistricting and Democratic Backslide in Ohio

Sep 30, 2022 | Ohio State University

Manipulation of electoral districts has been a tool of American politics since at least the early 1800s. In today’s America, this strategy is as prevalent, or perhaps more...

Party Polarization in America: Should We Be Worried? By: Bailey Markowski @ The Ohio State University

Feb 23, 2018 | Ohio State University

The United States government has shut down twice, albeit briefly, in 2018, and again in the not so distant past of 2013. Many individuals in politics and the media have rushed to blame increasing...

Trump’s Responses towards Alsup’s Ruling Contain Signals of Democratic Erosion by Lei Guo @ The Ohio State University

Feb 23, 2018 | Ohio State University

On January 9th this year, a San Francisco United State District Judge ---- Alsup rules the remaining of in effect of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which program Trump Administration...

Jokes about Treason are Not a Joke by John Ganger @ Ohio State University

Feb 23, 2018 | Ohio State University

Six days after giving his State of the Union address in front of Congress, President Donald Trump complained publicly that Congressional Democrats did not clap for his speech, lamenting that “Even...

Concern That the U.S. Is Close to Authoritarianism Is Probably Premature by Ricky Cutlip @ Ohio State University

Feb 23, 2018 | Ohio State University

There has been much speculation as to whether the most recent election in the United States highlights and enhances both democratic backslide and a new stealth authoritarian regime. In order to...

The Federal Bureau of Instigation by Joseph Glandorf @ The Ohio State University

Feb 23, 2018 | Ohio State University

When such a firmly established American institution of justice as the FBI falls under attack by prominent members of the “law and order” party, it should be clear to everyone that something is...

How Trump is using the Nunes Memo to Consolidate Power and Weaken His Opposition By Jackson Schumacher @ The Ohio State University

Feb 23, 2018 | Ohio State University

Following a protracted political maelstrom in late January, House republicans voted along party lines to release the controversial Nunes memo and not a counter memo composed by the Democratic Party....

Donald Trump’s Rhetoric Does Not Threaten the United States Media by Ethan Gruber @ The Ohio State University

Feb 23, 2018 | Ohio State University

After a relative silence on the topic, President Trump vowed to re-examine libel laws in the United States. This pledge, coming on the heels of Michael Wolff’s Fire and Fury, surely comes with an...

The Case for Democratic Elections by Evelyn Kennedy @ The Ohio State University

Feb 23, 2018 | Ohio State University

President Trump may no longer be on The Apprentice, but his infamous “You’re fired!” line may still come in handy. Of the many difficult and important decisions that President Trump has to make, one...

Gerrymandering, And Those Who Fight to Protect it, is A Threat To American Democracy by Drew Flanagan @ The Ohio State University

Feb 23, 2018 | Ohio State University

Creed's Seafood Steaks in King of Prussia: classy seafood joint, or embodiment of democratic erosion? According to political scientist John Kennedy, it's essentially both. Dr. Kennedy is a professor...