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.

Are We Losing our Sense of National Pride? Vivek Ramaswamy Seems to Think So

Oct 11, 2024 | Ohio State University

Vivek Ramaswamy, a former candidate for the Republican Party’s 2024 presidential nomination, strongly believes in putting America first in almost every scenario. I recently...

Local Governments Still Embody What it Truly Means to be Democratic

Oct 11, 2024 | Ohio State University

As Americans who value democracy, we frequently want to be able to directly sit down with our representatives and voice our opinions and be able to have civil discussion on...

Stealth Authoritarianism and Feminist Outcry in Iran

Oct 12, 2022 | SUNY-Binghamton

In mid-September of this year Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman was taken into police custody and died shortly after. The police stated that Mahsa Amini had a heart attack and that was the cause of...

U.S. Prisons’ Overcrowding Pandemic Failures

Oct 12, 2022 | SUNY-Binghamton

The issue of prison system failures that stem from pandemic regulations (or lack thereof) is a pervasive one across the globe. While pre-pandemic systems were already fraught with rampant human...

When Will Sudan’s Promissory Coup End? Interview with Ruling General Provides Little Clarity for the Country’s Future

Oct 12, 2022 | Ohio State University

In the past three years, Sudan has experienced two promissory coups, plunging the country into ongoing political turmoil. Although outwardly intended to foster democratization, these coups often...

Hostage Situation Shines Spotlight Back on Backsliding Democracy in the Philippines

Oct 12, 2022 | Ohio State University

WHAT JUST HAPPENED? On October 9th, an ex-senator was used in a hostage situation while prisoners were attempting a jailbreak in the Republic of the Philippines. The senator’s name is Leila de...

Felony Disenfranchisement Laws as Stealth Authoritarianism

Oct 1, 2022 | Ohio State University

Electoral laws are a common and necessary component of democratic regimes. However, these laws can undermine the democratic voting process through legal means. Restricting the voting rights of...

Corporate Authoritarianism in Ohio: How a Bribery Scheme Led to Widespread Subversion of Democracy

Sep 30, 2022 | Ohio State University

Within American democracy, politicians incorporate aspects of stealth authoritarianism into every level of politics. Often, the most brazen political stunts are performed when eyes are pointed...

U.S. Democracy Threatened at its Birthplace: Doug Mastriano’s Rise in Pennsylvania

Sep 30, 2022 | Ohio State University

Pennsylvania Statehouse - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania One of the most troubling developments of the 2022 election cycle has been the nomination of Doug Mastriano to be the Republican Party’s candidate...

Mar-a-Lago Raid: How Trump’s Attacks on the Judiciary Spell Disaster

Sep 30, 2022 | Ohio State University

On August 8th, for the first time, law enforcement agents raided the home of a former president on suspicion of criminal activity. The ensuing legal conflict between former president Donald Trump...

Voter ID Laws – A Solution to Voter Fraud or a Threat to Democracy?

Sep 30, 2022 | Ohio State University

If there is one democratic concept that has been emphasized time and time again, one idea that is vital for a state to even credit itself as democratic––it’s elections. Yet, since the 2020...