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.

Israel’s Nation-State Law and the Fight Over Belonging

Israel’s Nation-State Law and the Fight Over Belonging Every democracy is based on a single premise: equality. That is why Israel’s 2018 Nation-State Law matters. In July 2018, the Israeli Knesset passed Basic Law: Israel as the Nation-State of the Jewish People, also...

Can a Democracy Die With 90% Approval?

Just as we overlook the origins of our daily coffee, failing to question the institutional costs of immediate safety and efficiency allows authoritarianism to legally dismantle democracy until it becomes an unquestioned “norm.”

Is Mexico’s Democracy Slipping?

This post explores how the rise of drug cartels affects of accountability which leads the democratic backsliding in Mexico, creating a dangerous state of “shadow governance.”

A 50-Year Sentence for Facebook Posts: The Implications of Section 112

Dec 9, 2025 | University of Pittsburgh

In January 2025, a 30-year-old man from Chiang Rai, Thailand, Mongkol Thirakot, was sentenced to 50 years in prison after being accused of posting 27 Facebook posts related...

When the Army Said No: How Military Defection Toppled Bangladesh’s Autocrat

Dec 8, 2025 | University of Pittsburgh

On the night of August 4, 2024, Bangladesh’s army chief held an emergency video conference with his generals. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had ordered troops to enforce a...

The Migrant Crisis in New York: Why Populism Brought Us to Such a Partisan Divide

Oct 17, 2022 | Boston University

Earlier this month, New York City Mayor Eric Adams declared a state of emergency in his city due to the massive influx of migrants arriving by bus. As a result, New York City is currently facing...

Political Polarization and Economic Inequality: How the United States is Democratically Eroding

Oct 17, 2022 | Boston University

An analysis of American democratic erosion is conducted leveraging findings from political science professors Sheri Berman and Ozan Varol. Particular attention is paid to the populist Trump...

Democratic Backsliding in the Massachusetts State House

Oct 17, 2022 | Boston University

As we well know, democracy is not a stable thing. It is fragile and easily threatened, yet idealized and strived for all around the world. In one moment it can be strong as ever, and in the next, it...

Voice of a People: Is Trump’s Right-Wing Populist Shake-Up Detrimental to American Democracy?

Oct 17, 2022 | Boston University

“I alone can fix it”. Five simple words which have the power to jeopardize American democracy. With Trump’s use of such rhetoric at the Republican National Committee (RNC) in 2016 when referring to...

Taxation Without Representation: The 51st State

Oct 17, 2022 | Boston University

“Taxation without representation,” is not just some catchy slogan plastered across license plates. It is the reality for nearly 700,000 Americans currently living in the nation’s capital. For almost...

Flashy News & Politics Killing Democracy

Oct 17, 2022 | Boston University

In the modern world of the twenty-four-hour news cycle, the ever-rising importance of media, and the chase for viewers, news outlets are always looking for the next big story facing the...

Populism and Nationalism: Global Threats to Democracy

Oct 17, 2022 | Boston University

Populism and nationalism are two separate concepts, yet simultaneously they are deeply interconnected ideologies. Populism, as defined by Jan Mueller, is where a political leader uses...

Democracy in Puerto Rico

Oct 17, 2022 | Boston University

This past September, Puerto Rico was hit by Hurricane Fiona which left many parts of the island without power. In 2017, Hurricane Maria, a category 5 storm hit the island, and thousands died, houses...

The Election of Narendra Modi: A Turning Point in the Indian Democracy

Oct 17, 2022 | Boston University

In 2022, India sits as the world’s most populous country of around 1.38 billion people, making it the largest democracy in the world. The Indian government is modeled after the Westminster model, a...