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.

Donald Trump the Nazi Reincarnate?: Godwin’s Law and How This Phenomenon is Counterproductive to Understanding Democratic Erosion

What do we hope to accomplish when comparing President Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler, a tyrannical perpetrator of genocide?

The Russia-Ukraine War Bodes Poorly for Democracy, But Not in the Way You Think

The Russia-Ukraine War is a serious threat to global democracy through the growing wave of isolationism in the United States, an entity that has typically been at the forefront of fighting authoritarianism across the world.

The Trump Administration’s Attack on USAID

The Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle USAID, increase concerns about democratic backsliding as it could result in a trend with the executive undermining institutional legitimacy.

Undermining Education through Political Motivation

Jun 3, 2022 | University of California, San Diego

Recently the state of Florida passed legislation that would establish November 7th as “Victims of Communism day”. On that day students throughout the state will receive a...

Understanding Populism and Its Effect in Bolivia

Jun 2, 2022 | University of California, San Diego

Populism is unique in that it can take on many shapes and is not tied to either end of the political spectrum but is rather an ideology. Populist leaders also rarely claim...

One Providence? Using an Interfaith Forum to Confront Polarization by Isabela Karibjanian @ Brown University

Nov 13, 2017 | Brown University

At just after 6 pm on Wednesday, November 1, Providence Mayor Jorge D. Elorza’s first Interfaith Forum began. Thirty to forty community members from a wide range of ages and faith groups packed into...

A Democratic Election Without an Opposition Candidate: an Oxymoron? by Laura Stavisky @Boston University

Nov 13, 2017 | Boston University

On October 26th, President Uhuru Kenyatta won Kenya’s presidential re-run election with 98% of the vote. This vote came almost three months after the initial vote on August 8th in which Kenyatta won...

Polarization Prevails: Roy Moore’s unwavering fan base by Emily Masse @ Boston University

Nov 13, 2017 | Boston University

Even under a dark cloud of sexual misconduct allegations, Alabama Senatorial candidate Roy Moore, referred to as the “Ten Commandments Judge,” maintains support from constituents. On November 09,...

The Danger of Bureaucratic Resistance by Rachel Bennetts @ Boston University

Nov 12, 2017 | Boston University

It is easy for many to say, because he is so popular, that bureaucratic resistance against the Administration of President Trump is warranted. In the interview conducted by Dave Kestenbaum for...

Trump’s McCarthyism and What the American People Have Come to Fear By: Emma Geesaman @ Boston University

Nov 10, 2017 | Boston University

In the 2016 presidential race, Trump didn’t reassure Americans that they have nothing to fear, rather he pulled the security blanket of American exceptionalism right off the public’s back, exposing...

An Interfaith Forum with Mayor Elorza: Engaging Faith and ‘Uncooperative Localism’ in Providence by Zach Witkin @ Brown University

Nov 10, 2017 | Brown University

The Interfaith Forum, organized by Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza’s One Providence Initiative, united around two different ideas of “faith.” For organizers and attendees, there was not much faith in...