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.

Shaking Up Democracy: Is Mexico’s 2024 Judicial Reform Democratic Backsliding?

Is Mexico’s 2024 Judicial Reform Democratic Backsliding?

When Violence Breaks the Surface: The Kirk Incident as a Warning for American Democracy

By Stavros Ligris The shooting of Charlie Kirk during a university event in Utah this September has been described as shocking, tragic, and destabilizing. But it should also be understood as part of a larger pattern of democratic decline in the United States. What...

First 100 Days, More Like First 100 Hours: How Trump’s First 100 Days Played Out Against Trump’s Second 100 Hours

Indiana Senator Jim Banks, a staunch Trump ally, predicted that President Trump’s return to power would be characterized by “shock and awe.” In many ways, the events of President Trump’s first 100 hours in office during his second term have lived up to that promise....

Growing Rifts, Breaking Ties: Marcos v. Duterte as an Institutional Crisis in the Philippines

May 15, 2025 | University of the Philippines, Diliman

“Oh, how the mighty have fallen!” In the span of months, the Dutertes came from having strong positions in Philippine society and government to the verge of collapse. The...

The SVP’s Latest Anti-Immigration Initiative to Mobilize Supporters

May 14, 2025 | James Madison University

Photo by: Anthony Anex In April of 2024, the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) proposed the “No to 10 Million Swiss!” initiative. This initiative is proposing to put a cap on the...

Demagogues: Turning America into the Child Left Behind

Apr 20, 2025 | University of Memphis

Image Source: Getty Images/ABC News The loud, proud American trope has been a stereotype that Americans have worn proudly on their sleeves. This image, both a source of laughter and slight fear, has...

Americas Political Polarization Problem

Apr 20, 2025 | Boston University

Polarization in the United States no longer serves democracy, but instead serves as a tool for those in power. Instead of increasing political polarization and allowing diverse opinions in politics,...

Germany’s Defense of Democracy

Apr 20, 2025 | University of Memphis, Featured

With the recent elections in Germany, there is a clear growth in favor of populist leaders. The election saw record-breaking voter turnout, with 82.5% of eligible voters participating. This is a...

Trump’s Evolved Form of Populism Works… and Hurts.

Apr 20, 2025 | University of Memphis

Trump has been called a populist since his initial campaign in 2016, with his ideas being mostly the same over the years: dismantle the Department of Education, impose tariffs on Mexico and China,...

The Judicial Branch’s Downfall

Apr 20, 2025 | University of Memphis

The Judicial branch has power and control over translating and applying our laws in the court system. The purpose of having three separate branches is to preserve an equal and fair democracy in the...

Israel’s Judicial Reforms: A Potential Danger to Democracy?

Apr 20, 2025 | University of Memphis

Israel's Judicial Reforms: A Potential Danger to Democracy? In 2023, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration put forward extensive judicial reforms aimed at significantly...

Arresting Opposition and Squashing Protests: Democratic Backsliding in Turkey Under Erdoğan

Apr 19, 2025 | Boston University

On March 19, Ekrem Imamoğlu, mayor of Istanbul, was arrested on charges of corruption and terrorism. His arrest took place days before he was expected to be selected by the Republican People’s Party...

2025 Romanian Elections: An Election Redo and a Barred Candidate

Apr 18, 2025 | Boston University

Only two weeks out from Presidential Elections, Romanian voters face a tough decision in deciding on the next leader of their country. The latest opinion polls show that nearly 40% of voters are...

Analyzing Polarization and Democratic Politics: The SAVE Act

Apr 18, 2025 | Boston University

Last week, the House passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act with a large amount of Republican support and four democratic votes. The bill requires all voters to provide proof of U.S....