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.

Duking-it-Out: How an Ohio Group Promotes Dialogue in their Polarized Community

Oct 14, 2024 | Ohio State University

The League of Women Voters of Northern Portage County (LWVNPC), a small, hyperlocal voting rights and civic engagement group, operates at the edge of the Cleveland suburbs,...

How Changes To Columbus’s LEAP Program Demonstrate the Strength’s Of Our Democratic System

Oct 13, 2024 | Ohio State University

Lead exposure is an urgent issue in Ohio. These last two weeks I had the opportunity to watch the Columbus City Council meeting discussing Columbus’ initiative to replace...

Populism In Present-Day Italy

Oct 16, 2022 | Boston University

Populism is a political strategy that targets the general populace, hence the name. In recent times populism has grown in popularity globally. Examples such as Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Egypt, the...

Trump’s Role In Creating Anti-Democratic Norms

Oct 16, 2022 | Boston University

Trump's speech on January 6th, 2021 Trump's Role In Creating Anti-Democratic Norms US democracy is in jeopardy due to the Republican party's appeasement and pandering to far right-wing populism. As...

US Democracy: Racism Has Always Been the Problem

Oct 16, 2022 | Boston University

Republican rallies supporting candidates for the upcoming US midterm elections have campaigned on increasingly blatant racist rhetoric. Some media outlets have claimed that the uptick in racist...

How Biden and Harris Have Not Seen the Big Picture Surrounding their Debt Relief Plan

Oct 16, 2022 | Boston University

Just last night on October 14th, Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Plan applications went live on the...

In the Aftermath of the Protests: The Once and Future of Sri Lanka

Oct 16, 2022 | Ohio State University

The ongoing 2022 Sri Lankan Protests, called Janatha Aragalaya, or ‘The People’s Struggle’ in Sinhala, are on the surface rooted in the severe economic crisis in the country that has resulted in...

The “Overturning” of Roe V Wade: A Pro-Democratic Process Ruling?

Oct 16, 2022 | Boston University

In delivering the opinion of the court on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito states: “Abortion presents a profound moral issue on which Americans hold...

The Polarization and Politicization of the US Supreme Court

Oct 15, 2022 | Boston University

The Supreme Court, as an institution, has endured many changes — from the expansion of the court in 1790 from seven to nine justices, to the court packing plan attempted by Franklin D. Roosevelt....

Coups and Chaos: The Key Factors in Burkina Faso’s Government Gone Wrong

Oct 15, 2022 | Boston University

On September 30, 2022, Burkina Faso experienced its second coup within a year, ousting the now former President Lieutenant-Colonel Pual-Henri Damiba in favor of Ibrahim Traore, one of the army...

Voter Suppression as a Means for Stealth Authoritarianism in the United States

Oct 15, 2022 | Boston University

January 6th, 2021 was a harrowing day in American history by many metrics. The country watched as a mob of President Trump’s supporters stormed the United States Capitol with the intent of...