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 Florida’s Don’t Say Gay Bill is Accelerating American Democratic Backsliding

Sep 29, 2022 | Ohio State University

In many ways, Florida has become the voice for conservative America. Under the governorship of Republican Ron DeSantis since 2019, himself seen as a possible nominee for...

The January 6th Insurrection: Culmination of Democratic Backsliding

Sep 29, 2022 | Ohio State University

A prime example of the US democracy being in danger of falling apart was the attack on the US Capitol on January 6th, 2021. This was a result of Donald Trump, the President...

“Mark My Words: How Trump and Chavez Appeal to the Proletariat” by Kennedy Inman @ Georgia State University

Feb 20, 2018 | Georgia State University

Trump. A name that is synonymous with orange skin, red hats, and many opinions, especially on military parades and immigration. Chávez. A lesser known name when he began, yet became the leader of...

Democratic Erosion or Just Timely Hysteria: A look into Bright Line Watch by Ricardo Rios @ Skidmore College

Feb 20, 2018 | Skidmore College

U.S. democracy is changing, as do people, but is it really eroding? This is the essential question that inspires the work conducted by Bright Line Watch (BLW). The initiative is a collaboration...

The 2016 Election: Free and Fair or Biased and Bigoted? By Mackenzie Patrick @The Ohio State University

Feb 20, 2018 | Ohio State University

Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of democracy. This belief is widely accepted by both academic political theorists and most U.S. citizens. However, a critical look at the 2016 election...

Trump’s Fake News Awards Are a Threat to American Democracy By Jillian Newman @ Ohio State University

Feb 20, 2018 | Ohio State University

Donald Trump’s recent Fake News Awards may seem like just another harmless jab by Trump to the media that he often taunts, but it is much more than that. To have a sitting president attack his own...

DISRESPECTING THE UNION: HOW LAWMAKERS’ STATE OF THE UNION PROTESTS THREATEN TO UNDERMINE DEMOCRACY by LINDSEY POWELL @ UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

Feb 19, 2018 | University of Pennsylvania

On January 30, 2018, President Trump delivered his first State of the Union address to 46 million television viewers and a chamber filled with American dignitaries. Despite the chamber’s bustling...

Net Neutrality Is Not Neutral for Democracy by Ron Fornaro @ Ohio State University

Feb 19, 2018 | Ohio State University

Our Values, Change, and Net Neutrality Freedom and Speech and Freedom of the press are two of the most important tenants in our bill of rights and for American civic identity in general, and those...

The Executive Order Does Not Eliminate Institutional Checks by Thomas Baumgarten @ Ohio State University

Feb 18, 2018 | Ohio State University

Some may argue that Trump’s use of the executive order is responsible for the erosion of democracy by eliminating the system of checks and balances that are in place. I will argue that the necessary...

Is Trump the Cause or the Effect of the Apparent Democratic Downslide in America? by Jamie O’Neill @ Ohio State University

Feb 17, 2018 | Ohio State University

Presently, there is seemingly a decay of democracy under the Trump administration. The current administration has acted in ways, that under various circumstances, some of the American people have...

Trump’s Brand of Populism is Spreading–and Why We Should Worry by Kasey Powers @ The Ohio State University

Feb 17, 2018 | Ohio State University

Blue states, it turns out, are not immune to the Trump method of political campaigning. In early February, Illinois State Representative and Republican primary candidate for governor Jeanne Ives...