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.

How far is too far for South Korea’s presidential pardons?

South Korea’s presidential pardons raise questions on accountability, especially in the aftermath of Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law.

How tolerating and encouraging violence fuels democratic backsliding in Georgia

During the past demonstrations, the ruling party of Georgia – Georgian Dream – made violence their primary weapon in overcoming protest. This blog emphasizes how violence used by the state implies democratic backsliding in light of the theoretical framework by Levistsky and Ziblatt.

Repression on Repeat: From Kyiv to Minsk to Tbilisi

Repression on Repeat: From Kyiv to Minsk to Tbilisi Last October, parliamentary elections were held in Georgia. Many considered them as important as a referendum because Georgian citizens were asked to choose between the ruling Georgian Dream, a Euroskeptic...

How Did We Get Here? A Look at How Immigration Has Accelerated Populism in the Netherlands

Sep 17, 2024 | University of Denver

How did we get here? This is a question that many across Europe might be asking themselves when looking at the current health of their democracy. The Netherlands is no...

How the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election Contributed to Democratic Erosion

Sep 13, 2024 | Ohio State University

The 2020 U.S. presidential election was an important and influential election in the United States, and one that showed clear signs of democratic erosion in this country....

Voice of a People: Is Trump’s Right-Wing Populist Shake-Up Detrimental to American Democracy?

Oct 17, 2022 | Boston University

“I alone can fix it”. Five simple words which have the power to jeopardize American democracy. With Trump’s use of such rhetoric at the Republican National Committee (RNC) in 2016 when referring to...

Taxation Without Representation: The 51st State

Oct 17, 2022 | Boston University

“Taxation without representation,” is not just some catchy slogan plastered across license plates. It is the reality for nearly 700,000 Americans currently living in the nation’s capital. For almost...

Flashy News & Politics Killing Democracy

Oct 17, 2022 | Boston University

In the modern world of the twenty-four-hour news cycle, the ever-rising importance of media, and the chase for viewers, news outlets are always looking for the next big story facing the...

Populism and Nationalism: Global Threats to Democracy

Oct 17, 2022 | Boston University

Populism and nationalism are two separate concepts, yet simultaneously they are deeply interconnected ideologies. Populism, as defined by Jan Mueller, is where a political leader uses...

Democracy in Puerto Rico

Oct 17, 2022 | Boston University

This past September, Puerto Rico was hit by Hurricane Fiona which left many parts of the island without power. In 2017, Hurricane Maria, a category 5 storm hit the island, and thousands died, houses...

The Election of Narendra Modi: A Turning Point in the Indian Democracy

Oct 17, 2022 | Boston University

In 2022, India sits as the world’s most populous country of around 1.38 billion people, making it the largest democracy in the world. The Indian government is modeled after the Westminster model, a...

Has Wisconsin Infringed Upon Citizens’ Voting Rights?

Oct 17, 2022 | Boston University

As of July 8, 2022, Wisconsin's Supreme Court ruled that most of the state's drop boxes are not allowed. Eligible voters cannot have another person return their absentee ballot on their behalf. This...

Who’s Suppressed Next? Partisan Polarization and Voter Suppression in Post-Trump America

Oct 17, 2022 | Boston University

One of the most notable weaknesses of American democracy is its system of voting. Claims of widespread fraud following the 2020 presidential election perpetrated by one of the candidates are just...

How Democrats Undercut Biden’s September 1 Speech

Oct 17, 2022 | Boston University

As midterm election season began in September this year, President Biden gave a speech that strove to unite the rest of the country against Trump and MAGA Republicans, and to disavow political...