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.

South Africa’s Democracy Isn’t Collapsing, It’s Quietly Eroding

South Africa’s democracy remains intact on paper, but corruption, governance failures, and declining public trust reveal how democratic erosion can quietly unfold when both political elites weaken institutions and citizens lose faith in democracy’s ability to deliver real change.

Identity Survival Amongst Democratically Eroded Ethno-Religious Conflicts

When politics between religious governments turn into a contest for identity survival, democracy institutions stop being referees and start becoming weapons.

Poland’s Democratic Decline Was Reversible

In 2015, Poland experienced a significant decrease in democracy. The Law and Justice Party (PiS), under Jaroslaw Kaczyński’s leadership, secured victories in both the presidential and parliamentary elections. In a matter of months, the government acted to diminish the...

Are you MAGA, even? How Polarization Ties Into Democratic Erosion

Mar 29, 2026 | Suffolk University

By definition, democracy requires multiple parties to function, but the proudest democracy of the modern age is facing issues as a direct result. The United States is...

Have The New Immigration Policies Made the United States Fall Into Democratic Erosion?

Mar 28, 2026 | Suffolk University

Have the New Immigration Policies Made the United States Fall Into Democratic Erosion? By Stephanie Moran Since Trump has become president of the United States, he...

ASEAN’s role in Addressing Myanmar’s crisis

Oct 5, 2023 | School of Public Policy, Chiang Mai University

Source by : The Star news In February 2021, Myanmar has been facing a transforming a period of political unrest and widespread human rights violations, creating an urgent need for peace. In response...

Is Israel proficient at the breach of democratic values?

Oct 5, 2023 | School of Public Policy, Chiang Mai University

Photo source by : Spyware & Democratic Values Is the absence of international laws an excuse for the violation of Israel the breach of democratic principles globally? Israel plays a significant...

Timor-Leste’s Firm Stance on Myanmar Driven by Values

Oct 5, 2023 | School of Public Policy, Chiang Mai University

Photo 1: Source by Myanmar's military placed heavy restrictions on the internet ahead of the protests (BBC News) Timor-Leste's Support for Fairness and Human Rights in Myanmar's Crisis Timor-Leste,...

The Role of NGOs and CSOs in Democracy

Oct 4, 2023 | School of Public Policy, Chiang Mai University

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society organizations (CSOs) are exercising vital roles in promoting and encouraging democracy. They act as a third party between the people and the...

Federalism as A Tool for Conflict Resolution in Myanmar’s Democracy

Oct 4, 2023 | School of Public Policy, Chiang Mai University

Historical Background Myanmar is a country of diversity in terms of ethnicities, languages, and religions. There are an estimated 135 indigenous ethnic groups, or more officially organized by the...

“Positive Populism” in Electoral Campaign Overshadowed by Post-Election Reality in Slovenia

Sep 22, 2023 | Sciences Po Paris

In the 2022 parliamentary elections, Janez Janša, a right-wing populist leader of the SDS party was defeated by Robert Golob and his Freedom Movement, a new party on the scene. According to both...

Combatting Russian Disinformation: Estonia’s Response to the War in Ukraine

Aug 13, 2023 | Arizona State University

Co-authored by Sofia Walsh and David Thompson The war in Ukraine was a central theme in the March 2023 Estonian election. Like Ukraine, Estonia has a fraught history with its larger neighbor, both...

Russian Influence Efforts and the ‘Russophobia’ Narrative in the Baltic States; Evidence from Latvia and Georgia.

Jul 27, 2023 | Arizona State University

Co-Authored by Aiselyn Anaya-Hall and John Kaye Since long before the launch of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the world, and particularly the independent states of the...

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...