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.

Arresting Opposition and Squashing Protests: Democratic Backsliding in Turkey Under Erdoğan

Turkey has been inching towards autocracy under Erdoğan and the AKP for the last 22 years.

2025 Romanian Elections: An Election Redo and a Barred Candidate

Only two weeks out from Presidential Elections, Romanian voters face a tough decision in deciding on the next leader of their country. The latest opinion polls show that nearly 40% of voters are still undecided on who to vote for. After all, most voters already cast...

Why Protecting American Democracy Means Coming Together In Protest

In the lead up to the 2020 presidential election, the Democratic Erosion Consortium's very own professors Robert Blair and Steven Rosenzweig wrote an article in The Boston Globe urging readers to “Get ready to protest like democracy depends on it.” The article was in...

Roe v. Wade Reveals Underlying Inequalities

Jun 10, 2022 | University of California, San Diego

Source: https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/14514/production/_124402238_roe2.jpg Dahl: “In a political system where nearly every adult may vote but where knowledge,...

The Uvalde Shooting: Why We Need To Control Special Interest Groups

Jun 10, 2022 | University of California, San Diego

On May 4, 2022 at 11:33am, a gunman armed with a rifle from Daniel Defense (similar to Armalite’s AR-15), and a tactical vest without armor plates entered Robb elementary...

ELECTORAL BREAKDOWN IN KENYA: POLITICS OF DYNASTY & ETHNICITY by Grant Beatty @ University of Memphis

Nov 20, 2017 | University of Memphis

In Kenya, violence has again erupted after a second presidential election was held on October 26th, decided once more in favor of incumbent president Uhuru Kenyatta. On November 17, several were...

A Chance for Change or an Unholy Union? The National Football League, Protests and Democratic Values by Hunter Irons @ University of Memphis

Nov 20, 2017 | University of Memphis

It has been almost fifteen months since Colin Kaepernick first protested the national anthem and started what has become a mega story in the spheres of sports and politics. While Kaepernick remains...

Beat them into Submission: Catalan Protest and the Move Towards Declaring Independence By Shemaiah J. Moss @ University of Memphis

Nov 20, 2017 | University of Memphis

The resurgence of political protests in the United States seemed to be an anomaly to the less politically engaged citizens, but they along with the rest of the world began to realize that political...

Iceland: A Fumbling Government by Jordan Aulfinger @ University of Memphis

Nov 19, 2017 | University of Memphis

Iceland's government is in disarray. A month after its most recent election it is struggling to do basic things like decide which members of parliament will hold the various minister positions,...

Rohingya Refugee Crisis and the Impact on Bangladeshi Democracy by Cayna Sharp @ University of Memphis

Nov 19, 2017 | University of Memphis

On August 25th it is reported that a small militant group called the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (Arsa) attacked police and government soldiers. Since this attack, the Myanmar military has...

Threats against the Media in Bulgaria: The Beginning of the End of Democracy? by Victoria Potts @ University of Memphis

Nov 18, 2017 | University of Memphis

The journalists of Bulgaria regularly experience pressure from politicians to censor their questions and their stories. High-ranking officials openly threaten journalists' jobs to ensure their...

“Recalibrating” African Militaries: A new democratic hope for Burkina Faso after all? by Bradly Knox @ University of Memphis

Nov 17, 2017 | University of Memphis

From Enigma to a Stigma A column written for Foreign Policy magazine asks, ever so frankly, Why Are Africa’s Militaries So Disappointingly Bad? A variety of explanations could be drafted to explain...

Progress Is Not the Primary Concern for Progressives at the March for Racial Justice by Alexis Viera @ Brown University

Nov 17, 2017 | Brown University

The March for Racial Justice in Providence was not a march at all. A group of Providence’s activists and allies gathered on a green in India Point Park, forming a largely white crowd that hung on...