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.

Examining Democratic Backsliding Through the Actions of ICE

The disruption and terror produced by ICE agents have spread rapidly across the United States, having devastating impacts on big cities and small towns alike. In Leominster, Massachusetts — a town with generations of families, many being of Hispanic origin — video...

How Trump is using Stealth Authority

Trump is using stealth authoritarianism in his past presidency, after losing his presidency to Biden, and in his current presidency.

Election Denialism Might be The New Normal in The United States

Although Trump can’t run for another term, the false narrative of election fraud could help to create pushback from his party in the event that Democrats win the next election.

Militarizing The U.S. Boarder With Mexico: A Sign Of Democratic Erosion

Apr 17, 2025 | Boston University

On April 11, 2025, President Donald Trump granted the U.S. military permission to occupy federal lands along the border between the United States and Mexico. (Per The...

The JFK Files: Make America Paranoid Again

Apr 17, 2025 | Boston University

Donald Trump recently released 80,000 CIA files on the JFK assassination and the following investigation. These files were released to some degree in 2017, as was mandated...

Not Corona But Police Kills

Jun 13, 2022 | Koç University

Excessive police force against Covid-19 implications exacerbated Kenya’s harsh authoritarian climate. On August 1, 2021, police detained two brothers, Emmanuel Marura Ndwiga, 19, and Benson Njiru...

How Will Chile Heal Itself?

Jun 12, 2022 | Koç University

Democracy resembles archeological sites as it is made up of layers and Chile is a country that fought for its democratization for centuries. Even though it constructed multiple layers onto where it...

Does Bulgaria Really Support Ukraine?

Jun 12, 2022 | Koç University

Following the Russian aggression against Ukraine, it was generally questioned whether Bulgaria really supports Ukraine, but recent developments have solidified the country’s pro-Ukrainian stance,...

Almost Three Decades under ‘Lukashenkism’ Rule and the Consequences for Belarus

Jun 12, 2022 | Koç University

‘‘An authoritarian style of rule is a characteristic of me, and I have always admitted it’’. This brave but problematic statement was made 19 years ago by the Belarusian President Alexandar...

Slovenia’s Return to Democracy

Jun 12, 2022 | Koç University

Though it is true the country faced serious democratic challenges and risk of becoming an autocracy, the newest developments such as the results of elections and the promise of a new coalition...

Mongolia’s Ongi River Movement: A Case of an Active Civil Society

Jun 11, 2022 | Koç University

The Ongi River Movement (ORM) and its successor, the United Movement of Mongolian Rivers and Lakes (UMMRL), later Mongolian Nature Protection Coalition that united 11 movements, is one of the many...

Freedom of Speech and Media in Bangladesh: The Exploitation of Media and Restriction of Free Speech as a Tool to Advance Electoral Autocracy

Jun 11, 2022 | Koç University

“Four hostile newspapers are more to be feared than a thousand bayonets..” Napoleon Bonaparte Freedom of Speech is one of the fundamental pillar stones of international human rights and a...

The Rise of Far Right Populism in Spain

Jun 11, 2022 | Koç University

Photo:The far-right Vox party has been called far-right, anti-immigration and anti-Islam Vox has risen towards becoming Spain's third strongest party. As a result of its success, the government can...

The Most Vulnerable of N. Macedonia: Dangers of Two Steps Back from Democratization

Jun 11, 2022 | Koç University

The 11 years of governance by VMRO-DPMNE has seen the party engage in divisive social rhetoric and erasure of legislative institutions essential to Macedonian social rights and civil liberties. The...