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.

A Decade of Erosion Paints an Unfortunate Picture for Indonesian Democracy as Subianto Takes Office

Oct 30, 2024 | Ohio State University

As of October 20, 2024, Indonesia has a new president. Prabowo Subianto’s political history is anything but ordinary, as he was able to assume the highest office despite his...

The Unraveling of Bulgarian Democracy

Oct 30, 2024 | Ohio State University

Bulgaria saw massive protests in 2020 against Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and his administration. These demonstrated the democratic backsliding that had been occurring...

Is the U.S’s 2022 Election Facing Democratic Backsliding?

Oct 18, 2022 | Boston University

As the US 2022 midterm election continues, there are several phenomena going on in the process. The two political parties; Democrats and Republicans are the two competing rivals running for the...

Democratic Backsliding in Hungary

Oct 17, 2022 | Boston University

Since the founding of the European Union in 1993, the institution’s focus has centered around the principles of a full, representative democracy. Member states of the EU are required to maintain a...

The Erosion of the Democratic Facade

Oct 17, 2022 | Boston University

The ratification of the Charter of the United Nations in 1945 ushered in a new era of international relations, worldwide cooperation, and the international prioritization of democracy. The United...

The Consequences of Populism: Evo Morales and the 2019 Bolivian Crisis

Oct 17, 2022 | Boston University

Bolivia is often overshadowed by its neighboring countries– Brazil to the east, Chile to the west, and Argentina to the south. Similar to these countries, Bolivia transitioned its government from a...

Marijuana Decriminalization as a Method of Democratization

Oct 17, 2022 | Boston University

On October 6, 2022, President Joe Biden announced a mass presidential pardon of all prior federal offenses of simple marijuana possession. In his statement, he emphasized the importance of doing so...

Colorado Election Mistake Fuels Election Lies and Emboldens Populist Ideology

Oct 17, 2022 | Boston University

Colorado's secretary of state sent 30,000 non-citizens postcards that encouraged them to register to vote. Shortly after, the secretary of state's office released a statement saying it was a mistake...

How the Issue of Crime Has Reshaped the 2022 Midterm Elections

Oct 17, 2022 | Boston University

How the Issue of Crime has Reshaped the 2022 Midterm Elections As the Midterm Elections rapidly approach, a number of policy issues have taken the forefront of political debate such as...

The Migrant Crisis in New York: Why Populism Brought Us to Such a Partisan Divide

Oct 17, 2022 | Boston University

Earlier this month, New York City Mayor Eric Adams declared a state of emergency in his city due to the massive influx of migrants arriving by bus. As a result, New York City is currently facing...

Political Polarization and Economic Inequality: How the United States is Democratically Eroding

Oct 17, 2022 | Boston University

An analysis of American democratic erosion is conducted leveraging findings from political science professors Sheri Berman and Ozan Varol. Particular attention is paid to the populist Trump...