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.

Military-Made Sinkholes: The Constitutional Court and the Collapse of Thai Democracy

13 and 9. These numbers are of coups d’état that happened in Thailand since adopting the constitutional monarchy in 1932: 13 were successful, and 9 were unsuccessful. Democracy and the political landscape have been turbulent in Thailand, and they still are. However,...

The Permanent Campaign: Why Populist Leaders Can Never Stop Fighting the System

Imagine winning the most powerful office in the world and still governing like you're the underdog. That's the paradox at the center of modern populism and it isn't accidental. With Donald Trump's inauguration for his second term in January 2025, the fight did not...

The 2026 Midterms as an Institutional Test

The upcoming 2026 midterm elections are being framed as a referendum on the current executive agenda. But to view them merely though the lens of policy preference is to miss the deeper structural issues within the current state of American democracy. As the nation...

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...

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...

Zimbabwe: A Democracy in Crisis?

Nov 21, 2023 | University of Memphis

BLOG POST When it comes to democracy in the modern world, Zimbabawe’s democratic system finds itself in a precariously unique position where it seeks to find a balance between survival and stability...

Poland’s Decline: How a Lack of Pluralism Led to the Erosion of One of Eastern Europe’s Strongest Democracies

Nov 21, 2023 | Northeastern University

After almost 50 years of communist rule, Poland solidified itself as a stable European power with bright outlooks in terms of promoting and instilling a strong democracy in the country. In one of...

India Silenced: A Threat to Freedom of Expression

Nov 21, 2023 | University of Memphis

With a population of almost 1.4 billion citizens, the 5th largest economy in the world, and know to be one of the largest democracies in the world; it is evident that there will be multiple...

US Gun Control and Democratic Erosion

Nov 21, 2023 | University of Memphis

The very tumultuous and vibrant discourse that is Gun Control in the United States is something that has been contributing to the downfall of our country's democracy for quite some time. This is a...

Nigerian Elections Represent Threats to Democracy

Nov 21, 2023 | University of Memphis

Nigeria has experienced severe electoral flaws in recent elections, and this represents why poor electoral processes are one of the biggest threats to any democratic nation. Electoral irregularities...

Partisanship and it’s Problematic Implications

Nov 21, 2023 | University of Memphis

We seem to see partisanship growing more and more around us and in turn, mutual understanding seems to be regressing. After all, why would one trust and try to act in good faith with a perceived...

Poland’s Democratic Resurgence: A Beacon of Hope Amidst Global Backsliding

Nov 21, 2023 | Northeastern University

After years of a shift towards autocracy, Poland’s democracy is making an appearance once again. Even though there seems to be a worrying trend of increased democratic backsliding all around the...

Democratic Destruction Around The World

Nov 21, 2023 | University of Memphis

How often has it been publicized that a government leader takes their powers to the next level? More than likely every leader that even ran a country at some point has used their powers to do some...

Can Workplace Democracy Save American Democracy?

Nov 21, 2023 | Northeastern University

United States work stoppages and organized labor activity in 2023 are reaching a level not seen in decades, as hundreds of thousands of workers across the country take to the picket line. Meanwhile,...