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.

City Council: A Perfect Storm for Democratic Erosion

Oct 16, 2024 | Ohio State University

When it comes to the city council, how much do they do? What are the inner workings of a city’s council? What are the positions of the members of the city council? Are city...

Redrawing the Lines: Issue 1, Political Polarization between Ohio Voters

Oct 14, 2024 | Ohio State University

Through the Franklin County Democratic party, I had the opportunity to participate in several canvasing events this past month. On October 11th and 12th I canvased the...

How Democrats Undercut Biden’s September 1 Speech

Oct 17, 2022 | Boston University

As midterm election season began in September this year, President Biden gave a speech that strove to unite the rest of the country against Trump and MAGA Republicans, and to disavow political...

Exchanges of Stealth Authoritarianism Abroad: 2022 UK Elections Act

Oct 16, 2022 | Boston University

The US has for years used gerrymandering, felony disenfranchisement, voter ID, and many other measures to suppress the vote. Through these measures, US conservatives not only can influence the...

Populism Is a Problem. More Democracy Is Not the Solution.

Oct 16, 2022 | Boston University

Trump’s brand of populism created the single most politically spectacular event in the US’s history, when the pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6th, 2021 to prevent the formalization of Joe...

La Guerra Contra Las Pandillas Asegura El Lugar Del Autoritario Presidente Bukele En Los Corazónes Salvadoreño (The War Against the Gangs Secures the Authoritarian President Bukele’s Place in the Hearts of the Salvadorans)

Oct 16, 2022 | Boston University

Salvadorean presidential candidate Nayib Bukele, of the Great National Alliance (GANA), speaks during the closing rally of his campaign in San Salvador, on January 26, 2019 ahead of the first round...

Rising Populism in Britain Regarding Brexit

Oct 16, 2022 | Boston University

According to Jan-Werner Müller, the idea of Populism can be identified as an impossibleconcept as there are a multitude of differentiating viewpoints of what populism constitutes. Inrecent times,...

Voter Suppression in Georgia is Destroying America’s Civic Culture

Oct 16, 2022 | Boston University

One of the surprises of the tumultuous 2020 Presidential Election was Georgia, a traditionally Republican state, turning blue in favor of Joe Biden. Biden would go on to win the election, and his...

Oct 16, 2022 | Boston University

MAGA Republicans failed in 2020, but efforts are underway to make sure 2024 is a different story. November 7, 2020. Joseph Biden is determined by major news networks to be the 46th president...

The Inequalities and Injustices Immigrants Face

Oct 16, 2022 | Boston University

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 16: Immigrants and their supporters rally outside of the Varick Street Federal Immigration Court during a protest against recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)...

Democracy Dies in Darkness: What Brazil’s Election Tells Us

Oct 16, 2022 | Boston University

On October 2nd, Brazilian voters participated in the first round of General Elections. Amidst fears that far-right incumbent Jair Bolsonaro may stage an autogolpe if the results are not what he’s...