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.
Could the 2017 burning of Congress in Paraguay have led to the end years of Colorado Party dominance?
In 2017, protests erupted in Paraguay after President Horacio Cartes attempted to amend the constitution to allow for his re-election. Cartes’ influence over the Colorado Party— which has dominated Paraguayan politics for decades—has faced significant opposition due to corruption, bribery, and drug trafficking scandals, leading to public disillusionment with his party. The Colorado Party held onto power in 2023, but the lasting effects of Cartes’ actions may have provided enough fuel to the political fire to spark change in Paraguay.
The Unpaved Road Of Guatemala’s Democracy
Georgia’s Stolen Election: A Setback for Democracy and European Integration
Dissolving Political Parties in Thailand
Democratic institutions are breaking down and being taken away in Thailand. This is a direct sign of democratic erosion. Democratic erosion or backsliding occurs when there...
Cohabitation and a Turbulent Tribunal – The State of Polish Democracy
With the Government responsible for Poland's democratic backsliding losing legislative control, can its power entrenched in the courts be undone by the new Prime Minister?...
Is Donald Trump’s Populist Rhetoric a Threat to America’s Democracy?
On Friday, July 26th, at the Turning Point Action Believers’ Summit, Donald Trump made a very worrying statement for our democracy. During a speech, Donald Trump said, “Christians, get out and vote....
Populism Won’t Solve Rising Housing Prices, But People Are Choosing It Over Democracy—And Democracy Should Listen
Every person needs somewhere to live, but in the United States that is becoming increasingly more difficult to achieve. With rent prices increasing by more than 50% in the past five years,...
Presidential Immunity’s Weakening Impact on U.S. Checks and Balances
The United States was founded on the idea of checks and balances and no one branch of government becoming more powerful than another. This is meant to keep the country from becoming undemocratic and...
Absence of a Primary in the U.S. 2024 Democratic Nomination: An Act of Democratic Erosion
In democracies, political parties play a crucial role in representing the will of the people by allowing voters to select their preferred leaders through competitive elections. Recently, in the...
Trump v. United States: A Harbinger of Erosion?
Protesters at the Supreme Court - Credit Sarah Penney The Case in Question When rioters entered the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, the self-evident attempt to undermine democracy "shocked the...
Panic at the Polls: How the Words of a Leader Changed How Americans View Their Elections
An “I Voted” sticker is seen as a badge of honor. A symbol of one’s dedication to their country and its future leaders. A sign that someone has actively participated in their democracy. Voting is...
Is Democratic Erosion a Threat in the 2024 U.S. Election?
As we start the 2024 United States election cycle, campaign commercials, political slander, and discussions about immigration, healthcare, and taxation are all common. However, there’s another...
Could Packing the Supreme Court be the Beginning of the End?
If one day, the president of the United States decided to absolve the Supreme Court it is safe to say most citizens would be concerned about the health of the democracy. Throughout the 21st century,...
Democrats Do Away With Democratic Practices?
The 2024 Presidential Election has taken a form different than any in history, many elements being questionable legitimacy and ethics wise, such as the substitution of Democratic Presidential...