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.

First 100 Days, More Like First 100 Hours: How Trump’s First 100 Days Played Out Against Trump’s Second 100 Hours

Indiana Senator Jim Banks, a staunch Trump ally, predicted that President Trump’s return to power would be characterized by “shock and awe.” In many ways, the events of President Trump’s first 100 hours in office during his second term have lived up to that promise....

History Repeats: Why Strong Global Defense is Key to Preventing Autocracy

A strong and consistent global defense by democratic nations is crucial to preventing the rise of autocratic regimes, as history shows—from the Cold War doctrines to the failed democratization of Afghanistan—that without committed follow-through and structural reform, authoritarian forces will exploit weaknesses and reclaim power.

Women in Political Dynasties: The Illusion of Choice and Democratic Erosion in the Philippines

Political dynasties have long controlled Philippine politics, with powerful families passing down leadership positions across generations. Despite the imposition of term limits discouraging dynastic rule, these families have found their way around the constitutional...

The Militarization of Government and Policing in Brazil: A Case Study of Democratic Backsliding Under Jair Bolsonaro

Nov 4, 2024 | Ohio State University

Democratic backsliding is a process often marked not by dramatic coups, but by subtle, legal maneuvers that gradually weaken democratic norms. This slow unraveling was...

Dissolving Political Parties in Thailand

Nov 4, 2024 | Ohio State University

Democratic institutions are breaking down and being taken away in Thailand. This is a direct sign of democratic erosion. Democratic erosion or backsliding occurs when there...

Democratic Resilience

May 20, 2022 | University of California, San Diego

Our country is divided, we all know that, and there have been lies spread throughout the land. Lies of a stolen election perpetrated by a desperate political operator who felt his power slipping...

Populism and Political Systems

May 20, 2022 | University of California, San Diego

In the past few years, the tendency of populism has been increasing worldwide. Many state leaders are reckoned as populist due to their proposals on policies, such as the former President of the...

Will Castillo’s Proposed Referendum Fix Peru’s Democratic Erosion?

May 17, 2022 | SUNY-Binghamton

In June 2021, Pedro Castillo, a self proclaimed leftist populist, was elected as the president of Peru. With his victory over Keiko Fujimori a right wing populist only coming by 40,000 votes it...

Elon Musk’s Acquisition of Twitter: The Privatization of Social Media

May 17, 2022 | University of California, San Diego

Twitter, the social media platform that has been publicly traded since 2013, is expected to come under private ownership once again. This news comes with Elon Musk’s $44 billion offer to acquire the...

The Crumbling Institutional Pillars of the US Supreme Court

May 17, 2022 | University of California, San Diego

The recent leak of the initial majority draft opinion on Roe v. Wade has many implications of democratic erosion. The significance of this occurrence goes beyond the potential overturning of this...

Department of Homeland Security Announces New Disinformation Board

May 17, 2022 | University of California, San Diego

On April 27, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it had formed a new board focused on combating disinformation. The board will be headed by Nina Jankowicz, a Wilson Center...

Rise of Erdogan and Democratic Erosion in Turkey

May 17, 2022 | SUNY-Binghamton

Turkey was once the beacon of democratic liberalism in the East, outside of the Western powers. However, under its current leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his ruling party, Justice and Development...

Myanmar 2020 Election Fraud

May 17, 2022 | SUNY-Binghamton

Since gaining independence from British Rule, Myanmar, then known as Burma, experienced years of civil unrest between various ethnic groups. Just within 8 months after independence, the country was...

Continued Conflict in Ukraine

May 16, 2022 | SUNY-Binghamton

Continued Conflict in Ukraine As of late April, Ukraine has now been subject to this most recent military occupation by Russia for about two months. Under President Vladimir Putin, the Russian...