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.

History Repeats: Why Strong Global Defense is Key to Preventing Autocracy

A strong and consistent global defense by democratic nations is crucial to preventing the rise of autocratic regimes, as history shows—from the Cold War doctrines to the failed democratization of Afghanistan—that without committed follow-through and structural reform, authoritarian forces will exploit weaknesses and reclaim power.

Women in Political Dynasties: The Illusion of Choice and Democratic Erosion in the Philippines

Political dynasties have long controlled Philippine politics, with powerful families passing down leadership positions across generations. Despite the imposition of term limits discouraging dynastic rule, these families have found their way around the constitutional...

From Stardom to Senate: The Alarming Trend of Celebrity Politics in the Philippines

The intersection of celebrity and politics in the Philippines is nothing new. The phenomenon of celebrity politicians—actors, athletes, and other public figures who go from the big screen or stage to the corridors of power—has become a defining aspect of the country's...

Trump’s Challenging of the 14th Amendment: The Question of Birthright Citizenship

Feb 13, 2025 | Boston University

In the mere three weeks following his inauguration, President Donald Trump has ushered in a range of feelings across the nation regarding, what many may consider drastic,...

Blog Post 1

Feb 13, 2025 | Boston University

One reading I’d like to touch on is Chapter One of Levitsky and Ziblatt’s book, “How Democracies Die”. At first, I didn’t understand why the Aesop passage was included in...

South Korea’s 2022 Presidential Election and the Future of South Korean Democracy

Nov 26, 2022 | Boston University

The two main candidates for March's election: Democratic former governor Lee Jae-myung on the left, Conservative former prosecutor Yoon Suk-yeol on the right.Image source:...

Precursors to Democratic Erosion in Mali

Nov 26, 2022 | Boston University

Beginning with French occupation in the late 19th century, Mali has had a long history of violence as well as a...

The Far-Right Goes Mainstream: France’s National Rally in Parliament

Nov 25, 2022 | Boston University

The National Rally (RN), France’s far-right party, gained a record high of 89 seats in the lower house of Parliament in France’s June 2022 elections. The party’s gains demonstrate the success of...

Media Freedom in Poland Is Deteriorating

Nov 25, 2022 | Boston University

In May this year, Reporters Without Borders, also known as RSF released its annual Press Freedom Index. This report evaluates various indicators to give countries a score relative to the state’s...

Unprecedented Democratic Backsliding in Hungary: Is it Too Late to Turn Around?

Nov 25, 2022 | Boston University

When Russia launched its barbaric invasion on Ukraine, many expected a silver lining to emerge in which the Russian aggressor would become a catalyst for European states to reevaluate their...

Democracy’s Last Stand in the Middle East: Kais Saied’s Tunisia

Nov 25, 2022 | Boston University

The 2010 revolution in Tunisia did more than just birth the Arab Spring, it birthed democracy for the first time in the country’s history. Previously under Ottoman and French rule, Tunisia became a...

Populism and Its Consequences: Democratic Backsliding and Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Nov 24, 2022 | Boston University

In 1947 India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru spoke of freedom and democracy, marking the transition away from English colonialism. Three years later India's constitution was created. India...

Singapore’s Contradiction of Modernization Theory

Nov 24, 2022 | Boston University

In 1959, Lipset posited that the modernization of a country is conducive to democratization. Lipset understood modernization to include development in industrialization, urbanization, wealth and...

Seeing Politics in a Different Light

Nov 22, 2022 | Suffolk University

This past Spring, I worked as a District Intern for my Congressman. Most of the job was easy desk work, fielding calls and directing constituents to my higher ups, organizing mail, writing up...