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.

Why Estonia’s decision to disenfranchise non-EU citizens is doing more harm than good

Estonia’s fears over Russian and Belarusian citizens participating in local elections has led to highly restrictive measures that affect far more than those two groups.

Democratic Backsliding or Payback to the Democrats? Unpacking Yoon’s Presidency in South Korea

The post examines the growing democracy erosion in South Korea that preceded the impeachment of Yoon Suk-yeol.

Ballots and Bullets: How Political Violence Is Undermining Democracy in Mexico

Ballots and Bullets: How Political Violence Is Undermining Democracy in Mexico In 2024, Mexico held one of the largest and most consequential elections in its recent history—electing over 20,000 officials nationwide, including a new president, Claudia Sheinbaum...

Words of Warning: How Trump’s Rhetoric Reveals Potential Authoritarianism

Sep 13, 2024 | Ohio State University

For years now, former President Donald Trump has been enamored with claims of fraud in the 2020 election and unruly insulting his opponents. The 2024 election season has...

Foreign Interference: Is Iran Running the 2024 Election, What does this mean for America’s Democracy?

Sep 13, 2024 | Ohio State University

As America reaches election day in November, the 2024 presidential race has been found to be a topic of the utmost importance to not only Americans but foreign actors. As...

Winter Falls on the Arab Spring: Newly Proposed Constitution is a Threat to Tunisian Democracy

Jul 24, 2022 | Dartmouth College

Tunisia, once a beacon of democracy in the Arab world, is on the brink of losing their democratic government that inspired millions. In late June, Tunisian President Kais Saied proposed a new...

Democratic Backsliding in the Philippines and Rodrigo Duterte’s War on the Media

Jul 24, 2022 | Dartmouth College

Democracy cannot exist without the freedom of the press. A free and independent media serves as a "watchdog" that can report government wrongdoing and hold individuals and groups accountable. A free...

Texas Republicans’ Party Platform May Be More Harmful Than You Think

Jul 24, 2022 | Dartmouth College

Texas has long been considered the pinnacle of conservatism in the United States. This reputation isn’t undeserved, but it does lead to a dangerous notion that Texas will always be a far-right...

How Florida Governor DeSantis’ New “Stop Woke” Relates to an Illiberal Threat to American Democracy

Jul 24, 2022 | Dartmouth College

In American politics across both parties increased polarization and feelings of elite domination have caused concerns over an erosion of democracy and a move away from liberal democratic ideals....

Dangerous Determination: Uber Eroding Democracy

Jul 24, 2022 | Dartmouth College

This month, former Uber lobbyist Mark MacGann revealed over 124,000 documents of extensive notes and messages between world leaders and Uber executives around the world, which laid the foundation to...

January 6th: A Call for Republican Resistance

Jun 28, 2022 | University of Denver

On January 6, 2021, one of the greatest physical attacks on modern democracy occurred with the violent disruption of the 2020 presidential election certification at the U.S. Capitol. Trump...

Investigating the January 6th Insurrection

Jun 25, 2022 | University of Denver

A peaceful transfer of presidential power seems to be the normal, expected experience. For generations, we have watched as losing candidates respectfully attend the inauguration of their winning...

United States Democracy in Grave Danger

Jun 25, 2022 | University of Denver

It's been nearly three years since most Americans elected president Biden into office; however, his election left some Americans hopeless and unsure of American exceptionalism regarding democracy as...