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.

The Militarization of Government and Policing in Brazil: A Case Study of Democratic Backsliding Under Jair Bolsonaro

Nov 4, 2024 | Ohio State University

Democratic backsliding is a process often marked not by dramatic coups, but by subtle, legal maneuvers that gradually weaken democratic norms. This slow unraveling was...

Dissolving Political Parties in Thailand

Nov 4, 2024 | Ohio State University

Democratic institutions are breaking down and being taken away in Thailand. This is a direct sign of democratic erosion. Democratic erosion or backsliding occurs when there...

Exporting Hindutva: The Dangers of Hindu Nationalism’s Transformation into Islamophobia on the Global Stage

Nov 9, 2022 | Skidmore College

The Republic of India has been the most populous democracy in the world since its foundation 75 years ago. Since the meteoric rise of Hindu Nationalism, also known as Hindutva, and subsequent...

The Duterte Way And His Legacy on Philippine Democracy

Nov 9, 2022 | University of the Philippines, Diliman

Rodrigo Duterte’s presidential candidacy in the Philippines’ 2016 elections was a breath of fresh air for a majority of Filipinos. In a society of frustrated poor and ordinary citizens where the...

People Power Fatigue: How Past Revolutions’ Rise (And Fall) Led to Democratic Erosion in the Philippines

Nov 8, 2022 | University of the Philippines, Diliman

Photo taken by Joey de Vera from People Power: The Philippine Revolution of 1986: An eyewitness history, among other historical books. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=352007 Fatigue has...

The Case of Bolivia: When Democratic Backsliding Delivers to the Masses

Nov 6, 2022 | Skidmore College

Over the last two decades, Bolivian democracy has been routinely attacked and undermined by its leftist government. While many have protested the authoritarian actions of the ruling party, a...

What Cuba Can Teach the West About Democracy

Nov 6, 2022 | Skidmore College

As the world’s most established democracies flare warning signs of deterioration, perhaps it’s time for a look at liberal democracy’s most fervent critics to inspire renovation of our ideals. On...

Revisionism in Social Media and Philippine Democracy

Nov 6, 2022 | University of the Philippines, Diliman

In the digital age, social media has expanded from being a site showcasing lifestyles and personalities, linking and building connections between people, and a form of social entertainment to a...

Duterte’s Counterinsurgency Program: There Is More Than Meets the Eye

Nov 1, 2022 | University of the Philippines, Diliman

You’ll find no freer democracy than the Republic of the Philippines under former President Rodrigo Duterte (2016-2022). Well, at least that’s what former National Task Force to End Local Communist...

Rewriting Democracy: Chile’s Triumph of Institutional Process

Nov 1, 2022 | Skidmore College

On September 4, 2022, Chileans were offered a new path forward for their country. A new constitution had been drafted to replace the Pinochet era version, and Chilean citizens had the opportunity to...

Disbelief in Democratic Systems Starts with Election Fraud

Nov 1, 2022 | Boston University

Trump’s election as president was historic for many reasons, not only in that he seems to have less respect for...