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 are student blog posts written by student participants in the Democratic Erosion Course. These posts were not written by nor represent the views of the Democratic Erosion Consortium.

Food Security is Rooted Abroad

Global fertilizer supply chains connect geopolitical events abroad to food production at home in ways most consumers don’t see.

The Meaning of Silence : What the moment of silence for Melissa Hortman says about American democracy

On June 14, 2025, the lives of Melissa Hortman who was a House speaker in Minnesota and her husband Mark were taken in what authorities believe to be a politically motivated act of violence. The same day Senator John Hoffman and his wife were also shot and...

The New Future of Warfare? How Social Media is Inflating Tensions Between the U.S. and Iran.

Social media is moving to the forefront of the ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran, with political elites from both sides of the conflict using social media as a weapon to fabricate narratives and generate AI videos to publicly denounce the actions of one...

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...

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%...

Discussing Gerrymandering in the United States

May 2, 2023 | University of Utah

Many Americans take no note of the redistricting process that takes place every ten years within each state; but I argue that we should be paying close attention. Redistricting is simply the way...

Brazil: Democratic Erosion and State-Sponsored Political Violence

May 2, 2023 | University of Utah

Researchers posit that increases in certain types of political violence can encourage democratic erosion. Indeed, the analysis of one research study concludes that state-sponsored (or condoned)...

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro: Petty, or a Danger to Democracy?

May 1, 2023 | University of Utah

In October 2021, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defeated incumbent president Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil’s run-off presidential election. Months later, thousands of pro-Bolsonaro rioters stormed Praça dos...

Examining the Resurgence and Dangers of White Christian Nationalism in America

May 1, 2023 | University of Utah

On January 6th, 2021, millions around the world had their eyes glued to the T.V. as thousands of insurrectionists stormed the U.S. Capitol. This attempted coup—as many call it—did not happen by...

Plan B: The Erosion of the Mexican Electoral System

May 1, 2023 | University of Utah

Last February, Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) received massive criticism for recently approved electoral reforms that seek to undermine Mexico’s most renowned independent...

Voters Behind Bars: How Felon Disenfranchisement Weakens American Democracy

Apr 30, 2023 | University of Utah

The disenfranchisement of felons is paving the way for America’s democratic backsliding. Repealing these undemocratic laws will help to reinvigorate the American electorate’s investment in...