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 are student blog posts written by student participants in the Democratic Erosion Course. These posts were not written by nor represent the views of the Democratic Erosion Consortium.

Food Security is Rooted Abroad

Global fertilizer supply chains connect geopolitical events abroad to food production at home in ways most consumers don’t see.

The Meaning of Silence : What the moment of silence for Melissa Hortman says about American democracy

On June 14, 2025, the lives of Melissa Hortman who was a House speaker in Minnesota and her husband Mark were taken in what authorities believe to be a politically motivated act of violence. The same day Senator John Hoffman and his wife were also shot and...

Buying Injustice: The Hidden Harms of this Act.

Are we looking to create a thriving society, or are we allowing fear into the lives of immigrant families? As new immigration policies appear, the question become, how do we prevent the changes that involve separating families and dismantling the place that...

“Vietnam’s Ongoing Battle Against Corruption: Progress, and Challenges”

Oct 12, 2023 | School of Public Policy, Chiang Mai University

Introduction Vietnam introduced the Anti-Corruption Law, which came into effect on July 1, 2019, and forms the basis for the application of the Penal Code in relation to...

Unstable Politics in Myanmar: A Wicked Problem for ASEAN?

Oct 12, 2023 | School of Public Policy, Chiang Mai University

Introduction The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has faced an enormous challenge as a result of the military coup in Myanmar in February 2021. The group has...

IMMIGRATION HELPS DEFINE OUR DEMOCRACY BY AINSLEE PRECIADO @ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA- LOS ANGELES

Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

The immigration issue is a highly debated topic in the world today. People are moving from their homes for a myriad of reasons including but not limited to economic and health problems, wars and...

The Xi Dynasty Begins: China’s Xi Jinping Becomes Leader for Life By Blake Kazarian @ University of California, Los Angeles

Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

In a historic vote, China's legislative body, the National People's Congress, voted to get rid of presidential term limits. The vote took place in Beijing's Great Hall of the People and resulted in...

Democratic erosion in the Philippines

Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

Democratic erosion begins when the values, institutions and characteristics of democracy are challenged. The approach that most political scientists use when determining if a country is a democracy...

Brexit And The Evident Signs of Democratic Erosion. By Austin Roberts @ University of California Los Angeles

Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

On June 26th, 2016 The officials of the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union effective March 29, 2019. This decision rocked the political world and is set to reshape the nation’s place...

Implications of Foreign Intervention Through Syrian Sanctions by Pallavi Adapa @ University of California, Los Angeles

Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

In March of 2011, Syria underwent a civil war. Following this turbulent event, there was considerable oppression of the Syrian citizens by President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Protests were forcibly...

UNDER THE GUISE OF DEMOCRACY: Chavez’s Populism to Maduro’s Authoritarianism by Uma Vaingankar @ University of California, Los Angeles

Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

RIDING IN ON A LOW Hugo Chavez rose to power in Venezuela almost two decades ago in the midst of public distrust and discontentment with the Venezuelan government and judiciary. In 1992, Presidente...

Is there really such a thing as ‘good’ Populism? How the latest election in the Netherlands influences democratic erosion in the region. By Isabella Mullen @ UCLA

Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

Even though it looks like it gained a win in the United States in 2016, populism has seen comparable setbacks in the rest of the world. Le pen in France, Maduro in Venezuela, and Frauke Petry in...

South Korea’s 2017 Presidential Election and Foreign Threats: Is Democracy in Danger? by Hannah Kim @ University of California, Los Angeles

Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

SOUTH KOREA'S 2017 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND FOREIGN THREATS: IS DEMOCRACY IN DANGER? BY HANNAH KIM @ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES South Korea has experienced subjugation at the hands of...

Unconventional Hero? by Harriet Ferrer @ University of California, Los Angeles

Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

The Philippines is one of the oldest democracies in Asia, but the country has been plagued with regimes that undermine the institutions of democracy, which result in its instability. The Philippines...