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.

Donald Trump the Nazi Reincarnate?: Godwin’s Law and How This Phenomenon is Counterproductive to Understanding Democratic Erosion

What do we hope to accomplish when comparing President Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler, a tyrannical perpetrator of genocide?

The Russia-Ukraine War Bodes Poorly for Democracy, But Not in the Way You Think

The Russia-Ukraine War is a serious threat to global democracy through the growing wave of isolationism in the United States, an entity that has typically been at the forefront of fighting authoritarianism across the world.

The Trump Administration’s Attack on USAID

The Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle USAID, increase concerns about democratic backsliding as it could result in a trend with the executive undermining institutional legitimacy.

A 2024 Rematch: Will it be the Authoritarian or the Genocide-Enabler?

May 10, 2024 | American University

With the grim results of Super Tuesday, we face the catastrophic choice between Trump, espousing authoritarian ideology, and Biden, a now genocide-enabler. “Democracies...

Democracy in Decay:

May 8, 2024 | American University

Analyzing Democratic Backsliding in Narendra Modi’s India India is one of the world's most diverse and populated nations, with a revolutionary past and a promising future of...

Civil Rights: Inequality and Equality

Apr 28, 2022 | Suffolk University

Presidential Elections: How Do We Get More Americans to the Polls?

Apr 28, 2022 | Suffolk University

In the 2020 United States Presidential Election, the voter turnout rate was one of the highest seen in the past few years. An overall 66.8% of eligible voters checked off ballots that November, and...

Capitalist Realism, Democratic Erosion, and Labor Unionism in America

Apr 28, 2022 | Suffolk University

Not long ago, I familiarized myself with the work of the late political theorist and philosopher Mark Fisher. His most well-known and significant work, Capitalist Realism, is a valuable read, first...

It’s Time to Make Election Day a Federal Holiday

Apr 28, 2022 | University of Georgia

Voter suppression is one of the most pressing issues facing American democracy today. Many scholars worry we are living through a second coming of Jim Crow as across the nation elected officials are...

Jair Bolsonaro: Brazil’s Populist Threat

Apr 28, 2022 | University of Georgia

Brazil is one of the world’s largest democracies. In 2018, Brazil elected Jair Bolsonaro, President. Since then, he has been undermining their democracy. By using populist rhetoric to get elected...

Democratic Backsliding in Poland

Apr 28, 2022 | University of Georgia

As Russia has gained worldwide attention in recent months through engaging in inflammatory and aggressive authoritarian action, it has brought to light the important role that democracy has in...

Democratic Erosion in Czechia

Apr 27, 2022 | University of Georgia

Although the Czech Republic has a higher functioning democracy than most other Eastern European countries, it too has seen a gradual shift towards illiberalism. From 2006 to 2021, the Czech Republic...

Foreign Intervention in Building Democracies: Does It Set Them Up for Failure?

Apr 27, 2022 | University of Georgia

Time and time again, during times of conflict, we often see interventionist strategies employed by powerful democratic countries. These countries work under the guise of democratization, where they...

The 2022 French Presidential Election: A Call for Political Reform

Apr 27, 2022 | University of Georgia

2022 French Presidential Election Poster The results of the 2022 French presidential election have left many wondering where the future of French political life will lead. While incumbent Emmanual...