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
Not an Isolated Incident: Police Brutality, Extremism and Xenophobia in Greece
The arrest and death of Muhammad Kamran Ashiq in police custody in Greece was a tragedy. While the Greek government and Athens police may attribute his death as a rare case,...
A Decade of Erosion Paints an Unfortunate Picture for Indonesian Democracy as Subianto Takes Office
As of October 20, 2024, Indonesia has a new president. Prabowo Subianto’s political history is anything but ordinary, as he was able to assume the highest office despite his...
Trump v. United States: What Could This Mean for Democracy in the United States?
“With fear for our democracy, I dissent.” It is July 1, 2024, and the Supreme Court of the United States ruled on the case Trump v. United States. Liberals, like Justice Sonia Sotomayor of the above...
It’s Not Just Federal! State Democracies Erode Too.
America’s states are sometimes referred to as “laboratories of democracy” since their policies can shape policies on the national level. However, in an America where democracy is eroding, states are...
Trump v. United States: A Greenlight for Authoritarianism?
On July 1, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the President of the United States is above the law. In Trump v. United States, the Supreme Court reviewed allegations against former President...
Voter Fraud: The True Threat to American Democracy?
Are American elections just one big rigged system? Though there have been numerous claims of voter fraud, it can be hard to know how truly concerned about it we should be. There is actually...
Caution: Trump! The “Break Biden’s and Harris’s Regime” Plan is REAL!
Project 2025? If you think there is nothing more anti-democratic than Project 2025, YOU ARE WRONG! If Trump wins the 2024 election and, therefore, enacts his plan to Break Biden’s and Harris’s...
Words of Warning: How Trump’s Rhetoric Reveals Potential Authoritarianism
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 been no different. As a main...
Foreign Interference: Is Iran Running the 2024 Election, What does this mean for America’s Democracy?
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 influence of U.S Policy...
Does the State of US Media Mean We Are in Democratic Free-fall? No, Not Really.
The environment around US media has shifted dramatically over the last decade. Independence in US journalism has been a source of pride and confidence to the US people, but is this still true? The...
Dictator Loading: How Trump’s Reaction to the 2020 Election Predicts the Future
Donald Trump showed his autocratic desires in 2020 when he claimed that the election had been rigged against him before it had even been called. On the night of November 5th, 2020 President Trump...