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.

These blogs reflect the views of the student authors, and not those of the Democratic Erosion Consortium.

What Peter Magyar’s Win Means for Democracy in Hungary

“We have liberated Hungary and have taken back our country,” said Peter Magyar, announcing his landmark victory against strongman Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Orbán’s striking defeat marks a new era for Hungary as it seeks to rebuild its eroded democracy, strengthen...

Democratic Erosion in Bolivia: A Case of Gradual Internal Decline

Bolivia’s case shows that democracy is not maintained by elections alone, and that there is a possibility of both crisis and recovery through civic participation at the same time despite institutional weakness.

Democratic Backsliding: Be Observant

Setting the Stage for Autocracy Democratic backsliding is nothing if not the gradual death of democracy. Democracy is eroded through incremental steps taken by the dominant political party to consolidate power into their own hands. The specific means of doing this is...

Poland Shows How Democracy Can Bend, But Not Break

Feb 13, 2026 | Boston University

The people of Poland have witnessed democratic norms erode over the past decade, marked by the absence of credible courts, judicial collapse, and a lack of accountability....

Ongoing Democratic Erosion in Brazil After Bolsonaro

Feb 13, 2026 | Boston University

Brazil’s democracy, as of recent years, has faced significant erosion as a result of former president Jair Bolsonaro’s actions as a semi-loyalist who frequently rejected...

Crackdown of the Civil Society in Belarus

Jul 24, 2023 | Arizona State University

By Carly Chabrier and Veera Tyhtilä On 23 July 2021, the Ministry of Justice of Belarus forced 43 non-governmental organizations to close and terminate all their activities. Among the...

May 4, 2023 | University of Utah

On a seemingly normal day, America witnessed a threat to democracy. As Joe Biden was gearing up to take office after a turbulent election period, a group of Trump supporters and white supremacists...

Bolivian Opposition Leader Fernando Camacho’s Arrest Exemplifies Bolivia’s Polarization

May 3, 2023 | University of Utah

On December 28, 2023, prominent Bolivian right-wing opposition leader Fernando Camacho was arrested in the city of Santa Cruz on terrorism charges. Camacho’s arrest exemplifies increasing...

Japan, The United States, and Democracy: A Push into Modernization

May 3, 2023 | University of Utah

Democracy is what the United States prides itself on and the very base of every political decision, using it as justification for foreign affairs like Afghanistan, solidifying same-sex marriage as a...

How Claims of Fraudulent Elections Threaten Trust in American Democracy

May 3, 2023 | University of Utah

Trump supporters at a 'stop the steal' protest in Atlanta, Georgia In the past few years, the United States has experienced unprecedented levels of claims of a fraudulent or stolen election. The...

How Gerrymandering Happens and the Threat it Poses

May 3, 2023 | University of Utah

Gerrymandering is one of the most divisive issues in the United States, and for good reason. In fact, in 2021 CNN reported that voters consider gerrymandering to be biggest election related issue in...

How Data Collection Undermines Democracy

May 3, 2023 | University of Utah

When using personal and private data, artificial intelligence can fundamentally discriminate against race, religion, and sex and the lack of data privacy permits therefore permits gerrymandering and...

Mike Lee: Utah’s Own Disloyal Opposition

May 3, 2023 | University of Utah

A look into Utah state senator Mike Lee and how his direct involvement with the January 6th insurrection is dangerous to American democracy. You don’t have to be a political scientist to agree that...

Generational Divide: How US Politicians Cater to Seniors, Leaving Younger Voters Behind

May 3, 2023 | University of Utah

The United States is a country with a rapidly aging population. According to the United States Census Bureau, the percentage of the population aged 65 years or older is expected to increase from 16%...