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.

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...

From Stardom to Senate: The Alarming Trend of Celebrity Politics in the Philippines

The intersection of celebrity and politics in the Philippines is nothing new. The phenomenon of celebrity politicians—actors, athletes, and other public figures who go from the big screen or stage to the corridors of power—has become a defining aspect of the country's...

Is Democracy in the United States Backsliding?

Sep 30, 2022 | Ohio State University

In recent years the state of democracy, even in the United States, has been questioned and even described as democratically backsliding. This seems to be a scary thought for...

National Security v. Civil Liberties – Government Surveillance and the Concerning Power of the State Secrets Privilege

Sep 30, 2022 | Ohio State University

In the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks, the United States government adopted extensive surveillance measures in the hopes of preventing further tragedies....

If We’re Relying on Republican Constraint to Save Our Democracy, We Might Be in Trouble by Abby Nutter @ The Ohio State University

Feb 22, 2018 | Ohio State University

In Kurt Weyland’s piece on the barriers to populism in America he identifies Republican constraint as one of the protecting factors of American democracy. However, this argument is flawed for...

WHAT TO SAY AND HOW TO SAY IT: THE “BAN” ON WORDS AT THE CDC AND HOW TRUMP’S POPULIST RHETORIC PLAYS A ROLE by CASSANDRA DULA @ THE OHIO STATE UNIVERISTY

Feb 22, 2018 | Ohio State University

In December of 2017, several news reports – the first of which was the Washington Post – alleged that the Centers for Disease Control had enacted a “ban” on seven words in budgeting documents that...

Right Not to Vote: Voter Roll Purging in Ohio is a Danger to Free and Fair Elections by Sarah Stradling @ The Ohio State University

Feb 22, 2018 | Ohio State University

The 1993 National Voter Registration Act has served as the basis of the United States’ voter registry for the past 25 years, but one factor has recently come under scrutiny and is up for a Supreme...

“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...