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.

Redrawing Our Future: Issue One and the End of Gerrymandering in Ohio

Oct 11, 2024 | Ohio State University

Issue One will be on the ballot this November for Ohioans. I spoke to Catey Wolfe, the Campaign Manager for Representative Beryl Brown Piccolantonio, about the importance of...

Columbus City Council: How Local Government Hits Home

Oct 11, 2024 | Ohio State University

Turns out it's not impossible for politicians to agree on some things. Or at least that's what the Columbus City Council would have you believe. Maybe it's just a...

Ohio Continues To Have a Districting Issue

Sep 30, 2022 | Ohio State University

As of 2022, the state of Ohio has yet to fix its gerrymandering issue. With the new census results showing clear drops in Ohio’s population, the state has lost a district and must therefore...

Is Democracy in the United States Backsliding?

Sep 30, 2022 | Ohio State University

In recent years the state of democracy, even in the United States, has been questioned and even described as democratically backsliding. This seems to be a scary thought for a country which prides...

National Security v. Civil Liberties – Government Surveillance and the Concerning Power of the State Secrets Privilege

Sep 30, 2022 | Ohio State University

In the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks, the United States government adopted extensive surveillance measures in the hopes of preventing further tragedies. Over time, these measures...

Unfair Elections: A Breach of Freedom

Sep 30, 2022 | Ohio State University

The concept of free and fair elections, one of the hallmarks of a functioning democracy, seems to be slipping away in the United States. While Donald Trump’s claims of election fraud in the 2020...

Trump’s Schedule F Is a Threat to Democracy

Sep 30, 2022 | Ohio State University

And you thought Trump’s 92% adviser turnover rate was bad? Former President Donald Trump has committed, upon reelection, to legally reclassify thousands of federal jobs to facilitate mass firings....

The United States Supreme Court, Constitutional Retrogression, and Stealth Authoritarianism

Sep 30, 2022 | Ohio State University

Consensus and uniform use of political norms by major actors in all branches of government is key to democratic survival. If our nation’s executives, legislators, and judges all simultaneously...

Why Democrats Spending Millions to Support Far-Right Candidates is Dangerous for American Democracy

Sep 30, 2022 | Ohio State University

A week before the January 6th insurrection at the Capitol, Doug Mastriano prayed with Christian Nationalists for Donald Trump to seize power. Why then did he receive funding from Democrats in this...

How Did We Get to January 6th?

Sep 30, 2022 | Ohio State University

January 6th was a complete disregard for democratic institutions and processes, but how did we reach that point? How did so many United States citizens get to the point where they believed that they...

Drawing Lines: Redistricting and Democratic Backslide in Ohio

Sep 30, 2022 | Ohio State University

Manipulation of electoral districts has been a tool of American politics since at least the early 1800s. In today’s America, this strategy is as prevalent, or perhaps more so, as it ever was. Since...