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.

Trump’s Press Ban and The Courts Response

Access to unbarred media is fundamental to maintaining the integrity of a democratic country. Without independent media, the stream of information to voters is disrupted making people's understanding of their political environment inaccurate. If the media...

Trump’s Use of the SAVE Database May Threaten Democratic Participation

On Friday, September 25th, the Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to make use of the Department of Homeland Security's Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database to screen state voter lists for possible noncitizens temporarily. The...

The Press and the Limits of Presidential Power

On September 25, 2026, The Atlantic published Quinta Jurecic’s article, “The Two-Year Temper Tantrum to Come,” about President Donald Trump’s recent fight with the White House press. Just one day earlier, a federal judge had ordered the White House to restore access...

Is Israel proficient at the breach of democratic values?

Oct 5, 2023 | School of Public Policy, Chiang Mai University

Photo source by : Spyware & Democratic Values Is the absence of international laws an excuse for the violation of Israel the breach of democratic principles globally?...

Timor-Leste’s Firm Stance on Myanmar Driven by Values

Oct 5, 2023 | School of Public Policy, Chiang Mai University

Photo 1: Source by Myanmar's military placed heavy restrictions on the internet ahead of the protests (BBC News) Timor-Leste's Support for Fairness and Human Rights in...

“Capitalism versus Populism – A Break in Logic” by “Gabrielle Minotti” @ “Ohio State University”

Feb 23, 2018 | Ohio State University

Going along with most of the decisions the federal government has produced since the 2016 election, the newly minted tax reform is very pro business and capitalist oriented. Giving major tax cuts to...

Memo-Drama: The Danger of Government Misinformation for Democracy by Garrett Rethman @ Ohio State University

Feb 23, 2018 | Ohio State University

Who is telling the truth? Two memos with radically different ramifications are currently at the center of American political discussion. On one side, the Nunes memo , written by Rep. Devin Nunes and...

How Donald Trump’s Approach to U.S. Security Policy has Negative Implications for Democracy by Cierra Carafice @ The Ohio State University

Feb 23, 2018 | Ohio State University

Donald Trump’s recent actions in regards to security laws have distinct authoritarian undertones and a dangerous potential. Since the beginning of his term, President Donald Trump has had an...

Trump’s “Fake News Awards” Could Spell Danger for U.S. Democracy by Madeleine Haas @ Ohio State University

Feb 23, 2018 | Ohio State University

The free press is a central tenet of democracy and of the United States Constitution. Indeed, a media free from party control, propaganda, and suppression is one of the most important roadblocks to...

Democratic Backsliding and the Case of Gerrymandering in North Carolina by Sunder Sai @ The Ohio State University

Feb 22, 2018 | Ohio State University

In 2017, a trial court ordered North Carolina legislators to create new congressional voting maps because they deemed Republican legislators in violation of the Constitution for...

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...