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.

The United States of Stealth Authoritarianism

Are we really doing this? “America will continue our leadership in defense of human dignity, in defense of rules and norms, and in defense of freedom and liberty. There is too much at stake to do anything less.” Vice President Kamala Harris spoke those words in 2023...

The United States’ War on Public Education

While the country shifts their focus to the newly erupting war in the Middle East they begin to turn their backs on the war happening on US soil. This war may not involve heavy weaponry and mass casualties but it is crippling an essential institution for a functioning...

The DHS Shutdown is Led by Populist Politicians

An “anti-compromise” mindset from populist politicians continues to hinder negotiation between Democrats and the White House. On February 14, 2026 a partial government shutdown centered on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) began, surrounding the Trump...

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...

The Consequences of McCarthy’s Ousting on American Democracy

Nov 20, 2023 | Northeastern University

On January 7th 2023, Representative Kevin McCarthy was elected as the new Speaker of the House of Representatives after a record-breaking 15 rounds of voting. To achieve this, McCarthy had to make...

Stealth Authoritarianism being an American Compromise.

Nov 20, 2023 | University of Memphis

The Democratic Erosion Project exist to help shed light on how democracy falls apart and ways to preserve it as the rise of authoritarian states spread across the democratic world. However in the...

Chad’s Main Opposition Leader Fears Returning to His Country

Nov 20, 2023 | Northeastern University

The political exile of Succes Masra, leader of a main opposition party to the military junta in Chad, has recently come to an end after over a year away from the country. What is still unclear is...

‘The rest of the world is looking,’ – President Biden Delivers a Warning on U.S. Democratic Backsliding Preceding 2024 Election.

Nov 17, 2023 | Salem State University

On September 28, 2023, U.S. President Joe Biden delivered a speech commemorating the late senator John McCain, addressing the state of democratic backsliding in America, and warning Americans of the...

Democratic Erosion University Course Student Blog

The United States of Stealth Authoritarianism

The United States’ War on Public Education

The DHS Shutdown is Led by Populist Politicians

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

Can Poland Rebuild Its Democratic Institutions Without Breaking Them Further?

The Consequences of McCarthy’s Ousting on American Democracy

Chad’s Main Opposition Leader Fears Returning to His Country

‘The rest of the world is looking,’ – President Biden Delivers a Warning on U.S. Democratic Backsliding Preceding 2024 Election.

Artificial Intelligence and Authoritarian Governments

Slovakia’s Decision to Deter Immigrants from Entering the Country and Its Connection to Populism

How a Third Wave of Autocratization Has Impacted Montenegro

Democracy in the United Kingdom: Resilient or a Recipe for Erosion?

Food and Democracy: Democracy-building U.S. Aid Program under Threat

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