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 house is burning from the inside out: American democracy is dying

” There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide” - James Adams. If the average empire fails at 250 years and America is 248 years old, could we say that the death of democracy was something foreseeable and the uprise in authoritarian form of government...

Demagogues: Turning America into the Child Left Behind

The emergence of technofascist demagogues in American politics pose a significant threat to democracy and education, highlighting the urgent need for critical thinking and informed choices to protect the nation’s future.

Germany’s Defense of Democracy

Populism is rising in Germany, with the far-right political party, Alternative for Germany, gaining more and more popularity that echo dangerous anti-democratic trends from Germany, raising concerns about the future of Germany’s democracy.

Executive Aggrandizement & Institutional Resistance: South Korea

Apr 18, 2025 | Boston University

On December 3rd, 2024, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on the basis that the “North Korean Communist forces” and “Anti-State forces” had...

How the Economic State Impacts Politics

Apr 18, 2025 | Boston University

One connection I see between the United States right now and Weimar Germany is the economic state. The failure of the economic system in Germany, “Acted as a trigger,...

The Russia-Ukraine War Bodes Poorly for Democracy, But Not in the Way You Think

Mar 3, 2025 | The University of Alabama

The growing unpopularity for America providing foreign aid to Ukraine during its conflict with Russia signals a troubling shift towards isolationism. The United States, the world’s most involved...

The Trump Administration’s Attack on USAID

Feb 17, 2025 | Boston University

When President Trump campaigned for a second term in office, he promised to cut what he referred to as government waste, fraud and abuse. He tasked Elon Musk, shortly after his election, with...

Does Nayib Bukele Present a Compelling Challenge to Democratic Values?

Feb 15, 2025 | Boston University

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...

DOJ Terminations

Feb 14, 2025 | Boston University

Recently, The White House Terminated multiple U.S. attorneys within the Justice Department, which in itself can be seen as executive aggrandizement considering The White House is typically not...

Separation of Powers: The Judicial Branch’s Fight Against Trump

Feb 14, 2025 | Boston University

During his first three weeks in office, President Trump has signed over 60 executive orders covering controversial issues from DEI to immigration. Many of these executive orders have been met with...

Democratic Erosion in Political Satire: Exploring Americans’ Attitudes on Trump

Feb 14, 2025 | Boston University

For those concerned with U.S. democracy, it should suffice to say that this year has been off to a tumultuous start. With Donald Trump’s return to the White House, exhibiting his all too familiar...

DOGE: How Elon is Dismantling Democracy

Feb 14, 2025 | Boston University

Over the course of Trump’s initial presidency and subsequent re-election, the United States has faced several threats to the resilience and stability of its democratic institutions. From the January...

Democracy on the Brink: How the 2024 Election Tested America’s Democratic Foundations

Feb 14, 2025 | Boston University

The Slow Creep of Democratic Erosion Democracy doesn’t collapse suddenly – it deteriorates gradually from within. The 2024 U.S. presidential election revealed significant divisions in American...

Trump and The Fight for Immunity

Feb 14, 2025 | Boston University

The Trump administration has settled into the White House for less than a month, taking action on several issues that America is facing. With many problems to tackle, it does not help that President...