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 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.

Does Nayib Bukele Present a Compelling Challenge to Democratic Values?

Underlining political discussion here in the United States is a presumption that democracy is the best system by which we can organise civil society. I should preface that I, too, subscribe to this notion, and have not yet come across anything that could compel me to...

Honduras: How Populism Lead to the Removal of the Extradition Treaty

Oct 30, 2024 | Ohio State University

Honduras has struggled with gang violence and, therefore, drug trafficking since the fall of Dictator-Military Leader Rafael López Gutiérrez from 1924. To this day, Honduras...

Party Labels and the Courts: Ohio’s Shift Toward a Partisan Judiciary

Oct 16, 2024 | Ohio State University

On September 4th, I attended an Ohio College Democrats’ meeting and listened to Judge Lisa Forbes speak. She is currently running for a seat on the Ohio Supreme Court as a...

How Claims of Fraudulent Elections Threaten Trust in American Democracy

May 3, 2023 | University of Utah

Trump supporters at a 'stop the steal' protest in Atlanta, Georgia In the past few years, the United States has experienced unprecedented levels of claims of a fraudulent or stolen election. The...

How Gerrymandering Happens and the Threat it Poses

May 3, 2023 | University of Utah

Gerrymandering is one of the most divisive issues in the United States, and for good reason. In fact, in 2021 CNN reported that voters consider gerrymandering to be biggest election related issue in...

How Data Collection Undermines Democracy

May 3, 2023 | University of Utah

When using personal and private data, artificial intelligence can fundamentally discriminate against race, religion, and sex and the lack of data privacy permits therefore permits gerrymandering and...

Mike Lee: Utah’s Own Disloyal Opposition

May 3, 2023 | University of Utah

A look into Utah state senator Mike Lee and how his direct involvement with the January 6th insurrection is dangerous to American democracy. You don’t have to be a political scientist to agree that...

Generational Divide: How US Politicians Cater to Seniors, Leaving Younger Voters Behind

May 3, 2023 | University of Utah

The United States is a country with a rapidly aging population. According to the United States Census Bureau, the percentage of the population aged 65 years or older is expected to increase from 16%...

Discussing Gerrymandering in the United States

May 2, 2023 | University of Utah

Many Americans take no note of the redistricting process that takes place every ten years within each state; but I argue that we should be paying close attention. Redistricting is simply the way...

Brazil: Democratic Erosion and State-Sponsored Political Violence

May 2, 2023 | University of Utah

Researchers posit that increases in certain types of political violence can encourage democratic erosion. Indeed, the analysis of one research study concludes that state-sponsored (or condoned)...

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro: Petty, or a Danger to Democracy?

May 1, 2023 | University of Utah

In October 2021, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defeated incumbent president Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil’s run-off presidential election. Months later, thousands of pro-Bolsonaro rioters stormed Praça dos...

Examining the Resurgence and Dangers of White Christian Nationalism in America

May 1, 2023 | University of Utah

On January 6th, 2021, millions around the world had their eyes glued to the T.V. as thousands of insurrectionists stormed the U.S. Capitol. This attempted coup—as many call it—did not happen by...