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.

What a shrunken Congress means for democracy in America

Congress has shirked its constitutional duty to stand up to the presidency. This has dire consequences for our democracy.

Where are our Leaders of ’16? The Need for a New Sovereign Republic

Is the UK eroding Northern Irelands democracy?

The Rise of Independent Voters: A Crisis of Representation in American Democracy

The detailing of shifting voting patterns in American households.

The “No Kings” Movement. Can Public Outcry Halt Stealth Authoritarianism?

https://www.britannica.com/event/No-Kings-protests

Mar 9, 2026 | University of Houston

In the summer of 2024, the streets of Washington D.C. and cities across America echoed with a singular, rhythmic chant: "No Kings." This wasn't a protest against a foreign...

The SAVE America Act and Its Implications on Electoral Democracy in the U.S.

Mar 9, 2026 | University of Houston

Introduction After his defeat in the 2020 Presidential election, Donald Trump immediately began to protest against the outcome, claiming fraud and subsequently filing...

The United States is Divided…and Scared of Thy Neighbor?: Polarization is Eroding Democracy

Feb 13, 2026 | Boston University

The Democratic and Republican parties of the US are strongly divided, with 80% of US adults saying that voters from both parties not only disagree on policy, but also on basic facts. This should...

Diminishing Democracy Under the Georgian Dream Regime

Feb 13, 2026 | Boston University

Since its foundation by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvilia and rise to power in 2012, the now far-right Georgian Dream party has worked to strategically erode Georgia’s already fragile democracy....

Judicial Capture and Corruption in El Salvador: How Bukele is Hollowing Out Democracy from Within

Feb 13, 2026 | Boston University, Uncategorized

El Salvador is often portrayed as a rare success story in Latin America. Under President Nayib Bukele, the country has experienced a dramatic drop in homicide rates and a renewed sense of security...

Nationalizing Elections – Trump Seeks More Control Over Electoral Process

Feb 13, 2026 | Boston University

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has long decried the integrity of elections, now seeking to bring control of elections under the federal government, or at least comply with his...

Trump’s Call to Nationalize Elections: An Insult to Democracies Everywhere

Feb 13, 2026 | Boston University

In what has been a polarizing series of comments, president Donald Trump has recently gone on record expressing his strong desire to “nationalize” elections in the US. Trump has cited a list of...

Germany’s Firewall: A Successful Lesson on Elite Gatekeeping

Feb 13, 2026 | Boston University, Featured

The recent rise of radical right-wing party Alternative for Germany (AfD) has raised serious concerns about democratic backsliding in Germany. Founded in 2013, the party has seen a surge in...

ICE and the Narrowing of Pluralism

Feb 13, 2026 | Boston University

The expansion of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement under Donald Trump’s second term reflects anti-pluralism moving from rhetoric into institutional form. The Senate’s immigration bill...

A Seemingly Controversial 15 Minutes

Feb 13, 2026 | Boston University

Every February, a football team earns the right to call itself “world champions” by winning the Super Bowl. However, one of the most exciting aspects of the night, aside from the 60-minute gameplay...

Tunisia Under Saied: The Unraveling of the Arab Spring’s Lone Success Story

Feb 12, 2026 | Boston University, Featured

On January 31, 2026, Tunisian President Kais Saied extended the country’s state of emergency once more, now marking ten consecutive years of its being in effect. While he initially framed this as a...