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.

President Trump Attacks News Agencies Through Legal Means

President Trump has been attacking our democracy through legal means by suing news agencies and journalist.

Epstein’s Files Are More Than Files, They Are A Signal Of Democratic Erosion

In a June 2024 Fox News interview then presidential candidate Donald Trump claimed that when in office he would support the releasing of the full Epstein files. These files pertain to convicted sex trafficker Jefferey Epstein. Epstein was a financier who pleaded...

LEARNING RESOURCES, INC., ET AL. v. TRUMP(2026)

Learning resources Inc. dispute over tariffs on their toys and their impact on the ruling of presidential power on the use of emergency economic powers protecting democratic erosion

Civil Society vs. Populism: Israel’s Fight Over Democracy

Nov 20, 2025 | University of Pittsburgh

“Democracy can collapse in silence, but in Israel it spilled into the streets.” On July 24, 2023, the Knesset passed what became known as the “reasonableness law,”...

Can Poland Rebuild Its Democratic Institutions Without Breaking Them Further?

Nov 20, 2025 | University of Georgia

Poland’s 2023 election was noted as a critical turning point. After eight years, the Law and Justice Party (PiS), a coalition led by Donald Tusk gained enough seats to...

Democracy in Decay:

May 8, 2024 | American University

Analyzing Democratic Backsliding in Narendra Modi’s India India is one of the world's most diverse and populated nations, with a revolutionary past and a promising future of endless development,...

Populism or Dictablanda? A look at Strongmen in Latin America

May 8, 2024 | Ursinus College

When we consider strongmen or populist leaders in Latin America, Nayib Bukele and Evo Morales stand out. Bukele was raised in El Salvador by the children of immigrants and Morales was raised in the...

The Only Tzar in the Castle: The Consolidation of Putin’s Rule

May 8, 2024 | Ursinus College

When most think of strongmen, it is often the caricature of Vladmir Putin that comes to mind. A ruthless leader who invokes a rhetoric of nationalism, “traditional values”, and who has continuously...

What Do the 2024 Indian Elections Mean for the Future of the World’s Largest Democracy?

May 8, 2024 | Ursinus College

On April 19, 2024, citizens of India, the world’s largest democracy, will start to participate in the Lok Sabha elections. The Lok Sabha is the lower of the two houses that make up India’s...

Stealth Authoritarian Tactics in El Salvador

May 8, 2024 | Ursinus College

El Salvador’s status as a democracy is becoming an increasingly debated subject. Still, the nation did produce legitimate democratic results on February 4th 2024, when thousands of citizens...

Authoritarianism and its Effect on the European Union and Democracy

May 8, 2024 | Ursinus College

Authoritarian rule around the world is consistently a danger to democracy, world peace, and many civil liberties and political rights. Such civil liberties and political rights are often the...

The Democratic Struggle in Haiti

May 8, 2024 | Ursinus College

The recent gang related events in Haiti have spiraled out of control. The state lacked the capacity and power to prevent such gang activity. Haiti has long had the formal structure of a democracy...

Nayib Bukele’s Dystopia

May 5, 2024 | American University

When Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Barrio 18 members were deported to El Salvador, they returned to a country that did not help them reintegrate or even want them, and they...

Democracy faltering in Brazil? By Neil O’Donnell

May 5, 2024 | Ursinus College

Democracy in Brazil has always been an uphill battle since breaking from military control in 1988. Brazil founded a constitution which typically protects many Brazilians basic rights....