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.

Propaganda, The Iran War, and Democratic Erosion

The U.S. response to the Iran conflict demonstrates how propaganda and narrative manipulation transform foreign policy into a domestic political tool, contributing to democratic erosion by undermining informed citizenship, weakening accountability, and expanding...

Israel’s Nation-State Law and the Fight Over Belonging

Israel’s Nation-State Law and the Fight Over Belonging Every democracy is based on a single premise: equality. That is why Israel’s 2018 Nation-State Law matters. In July 2018, the Israeli Knesset passed Basic Law: Israel as the Nation-State of the Jewish People, also...

Can a Democracy Die With 90% Approval?

Just as we overlook the origins of our daily coffee, failing to question the institutional costs of immediate safety and efficiency allows authoritarianism to legally dismantle democracy until it becomes an unquestioned “norm.”

Is Democracy Enough? Social Hierarchy and the Limits of Democracy in India

Apr 20, 2026 | George Mason University

In most cases, India is described as the largest democracy in the world. Nonetheless, the mere size of the population is not always a criterion for quality. India holds...

The Modern Way to Lose Democracy .What’s Happening in Hungary Right Now?

Apr 20, 2026 | George Mason University, Universities

Hungary is a good example of breakdown countries. The most people think that countries in Europe have democracies that are stable, but Hungary is completely different....

All Eyes On You: Democratic Backsliding & Digital Surveillance by I.C.E in the U.S

Apr 17, 2026 | Boston University

BackgroundDemocratic backsliding is often portrayed as being the result of solely or primarily an executive using their executive power and influence to consolidate power and weaken institutions as...

How January 6th Emphasized the Importance of Strong Democratic Institutions

Apr 17, 2026 | Boston University, Uncategorized

The certification of President Biden’s electoral victory in 2021 stands as one of the most politically contentious moments in US history. Notably, on January 6th, 2021, a mob of supporters of...

The Erosion of Democracy Through the Epstein Files: Protection of the Elites

Apr 17, 2026 | Boston University

One of the most important cases of our current time is the discourse surrounding the Epstein files. Jeffrey Epstein, an American financier, was a convicted sex offender who ran a sex trafficking...

Breakdown without a Villain: Loss of Government Function in Kosovar Democracy

Apr 17, 2026 | Boston University

On March 6, 2026, Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani called for the dissolution of parliament and another snap election, after the lawmakers elected last December failed to elect their next president....

The Bukele Model: A Story of Stealth Authoritarianism and Media Suppression in El Salvador

Apr 17, 2026 | Boston University

President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador is widely known for being well loved by his constituents. Recent polls, following his 2024 re-election, found 90% of his constituents to be in favor of Bukele...

A Step Towards Change in Italy

Apr 17, 2026 | Boston University

In March 2026, Italy saw the first major defeat of their current far right government. A referendum that would’ve allowed the incumbent to further control and reform the judicial system was not...

A ‘Franken State,’ The Future of Israeli Democracy

Apr 17, 2026 | Boston University, Universities

A ‘Franken State,’ The Future of Israeli Democracy “For my friends, everything”: Israel as a Democracy, but for whom? In 1948, Israel was established as a parliamentary democracy. Despite Israel’s...

Mutual Reinforcement of Norm Breaking and Polarization in Peru

Apr 17, 2026 | Boston University

Despite a concerted effort to create “democratic, clean, transparent and orderly” elections in Peru, with 8 presidents serving in office since 2018 and 35 candidates running for presidential...

When Scapegoating Becomes Strategy: Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric

Apr 17, 2026 | Boston University

"I feel like my country is being stolen by people who have come here illegally," a Tea Party member told researcher Arlie Hochschild. "People come in and have the benefits of taxes, and the money...