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.

Hungary’s Assault on Academic Freedom

May 2, 2024 | Ursinus College

Hungary has been recently placed under international spotlight for its troubling trend of democratic decline under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and the Fidesz party. One of...

The New(er) Order: Subianto’s ties to Authoritarianism

May 1, 2024 | Ursinus College

Indonesia’s next president, Prabowo Subianto, won the recent election backed by current president Joko Widodo, due to his choice of running mate: Widodo’s son, Gibran...

Good Neighbors: The Importance of Protecting Democracy in Ukraine’s Neighbor Moldova

Apr 22, 2022 | Boston University

The recent Russian invasion of Ukraine has dominated political discussions shifting the focus of the world towards Eastern Europe as the current location of the battleground between democracy and...

Does Social Media Need More Oversight?

Apr 22, 2022 | Boston University

In a public appearance at Stanford, former president Barack Obama called for greater “regulatory oversight” of large social media giants. He argued that their power to select and provide information...

The Evolution of Hong Kong’s Independence Movement: A Radical Transformation into Unarmed Violence

Apr 22, 2022 | Boston University

Nearly five years after the famous Hong Kong Umbrella Movement, independence fighters re-emerged in the spring of 2019 with a vengeance in order to protest a highly controversial extradition bill...

Political Upheaval in Myanmar

Apr 22, 2022 | Boston University

In the past decade, the number of successful coups was on a steady decline, with a max of two successful coups in a year between 2015 and 2020. This number was down from decades past, suggesting...

The Extradition of Assange: A Dangerous Precedent for Free Press Everywhere

Apr 22, 2022 | Boston University

On Wednesday, April 20th, the Australian editor and publisher Julian Assange had a seven-minute hearing with a London Magistrates’ Court. During this, the Chief Magistrate announced that he would be...

Orban Wins Election Yet Again: What Does This Mean for Democracy in Hungary?

Apr 22, 2022 | Boston University

Incumbent Viktor Orban wins fourth consecutive election as Prime Minister, which raises concerns for Hungary's democracy as the Fidesz party continues to extend their control. April 3, 2022, Viktor...

Polarization and a Federal Judge’s Ruling on Mask Mandates in Florida

Apr 22, 2022 | Boston University

Since the beginning of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, the constitutionality of mandates has been questioned and tested. From the first mask mandate issued by the Center for Disease Control January...

Democratic Erosion in Florida: A Focus on DeSantis’ Use of Redistricting

Apr 22, 2022 | Boston University

Following Trump’s close win of the Florida electoral seats in 2016, DeSantis’ won the 2018 gubernatorial election by just .4% more than his Democratic opponent, meaning the political preferences of...

How 2022 Will Dictate the Fate of Philippines’ Democracy

Apr 22, 2022 | Boston University

As the 2022 election is only a few weeks away and Duterte’s tyranny is coming to an end, the state of Philippines’ democracy is in perilous condition as the frontrunner is Ferdinand Marcos Jr, son...