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 are student blog posts written by student participants in the Democratic Erosion Course. These posts were not written by nor represent the views of the Democratic Erosion Consortium.

Food Security is Rooted Abroad

Global fertilizer supply chains connect geopolitical events abroad to food production at home in ways most consumers don’t see.

The Meaning of Silence : What the moment of silence for Melissa Hortman says about American democracy

On June 14, 2025, the lives of Melissa Hortman who was a House speaker in Minnesota and her husband Mark were taken in what authorities believe to be a politically motivated act of violence. The same day Senator John Hoffman and his wife were also shot and...

Buying Injustice: The Hidden Harms of this Act.

Are we looking to create a thriving society, or are we allowing fear into the lives of immigrant families? As new immigration policies appear, the question become, how do we prevent the changes that involve separating families and dismantling the place that...

The Yadan Law and Its Potential Harm to Freedom of Expression in France

Apr 17, 2026 | Boston University

France’s Assemblée Nationale was set to debate an important bill for freedom of expression on April 16th. Though it was withdrawn before the debate, the government plans to...

Bulgaria’s Democratic Backsliding and the Upcoming Election

Apr 17, 2026 | Boston University

Communist Bulgaria fell in 1989, being replaced by a democratic system with severe economic challenges and deep political reforms. In 2007, Bulgaria joined the EU hoping to...

Presidential Immunity’s Weakening Impact on U.S. Checks and Balances

Sep 13, 2024 | Ohio State University

The United States was founded on the idea of checks and balances and no one branch of government becoming more powerful than another. This is meant to keep the country from becoming undemocratic and...

Absence of a Primary in the U.S. 2024 Democratic Nomination: An Act of Democratic Erosion

Sep 13, 2024 | Ohio State University

In democracies, political parties play a crucial role in representing the will of the people by allowing voters to select their preferred leaders through competitive elections. Recently, in the...

Trump vs. United States: A Harbinger of Erosion?

Sep 13, 2024 | Ohio State University

Protesters at the Supreme Court - Credit Sarah Penney The Case in Question When rioters entered the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, the self-evident attempt to undermine democracy "shocked the...

Panic at the Polls: How the Words of a Leader Changed How Americans View Their Elections

Sep 13, 2024 | Ohio State University

An “I Voted” sticker is seen as a badge of honor. A symbol of one’s dedication to their country and its future leaders. A sign that someone has actively participated in their democracy. Voting is...

Is Democratic Erosion a Threat in the 2024 U.S. Election?

Sep 13, 2024 | Ohio State University

As we start the 2024 United States election cycle, campaign commercials, political slander, and discussions about immigration, healthcare, and taxation are all common. However, there’s another...

Could Packing the Supreme Court be the Beginning of the End?

Sep 13, 2024 | Ohio State University

If one day, the president of the United States decided to absolve the Supreme Court it is safe to say most citizens would be concerned about the health of the democracy. Throughout the 21st century,...

Democrats Do Away With Democratic Practices?

Sep 13, 2024 | Ohio State University

The 2024 Presidential Election has taken a form different than any in history, many elements being questionable legitimacy and ethics wise, such as the substitution of Democratic Presidential...

Trump v. United States: What Could This Mean for Democracy in the United States?

Sep 13, 2024 | Ohio State University

“With fear for our democracy, I dissent.” It is July 1, 2024, and the Supreme Court of the United States ruled on the case Trump v. United States. Liberals, like Justice Sonia Sotomayor of the above...

It’s Not Just Federal! State Democracies Erode Too.

Sep 13, 2024 | Ohio State University

America’s states are sometimes referred to as “laboratories of democracy” since their policies can shape policies on the national level. However, in an America where democracy is eroding, states are...