A few decades ago, Turkey was the poster-boy of a democracy in the Islamic world. Fast forward to present day and Turkey is far from being a paragon of democracy, in light of the recent coup and …
Possibility of Democratic Backsliding in Slovakia by Mouthcheata Se @ University of California, Los Angeles
On March 2nd, 2018, approximately 20,000 Slovak protestors gathered in the Bratislava's Freedom Square to mourn and demand justice for a journalist named Jan Kuciak and his fiancée, Martina Kusnirova, …
Hungary’s “Dictator” Viktor Orban by Margaret Borse @ University of California, Los Angeles
Since Viktor Orban became Prime Minister of Hungary in 2010, democracy in Hungary has clearly been eroding. In the sense that is discussed in "Democracy's Gatekeepers" by Levitsky and Ziblatt, Viktor …
The Power of Protest: Democratic Strength Displayed at the Cleveland Women’s March by Cassandra Dula @ The Ohio State University
“Where do I even start?” This is what read on a large sign at the 2018 Cleveland Women’s March, fashioned out of a piece of cardboard and written in bold, black letters. On January 20th, hundreds …
Undemocratic America: How Gerrymandering is Diminishing the US Democracy by Ra’Shad Johnson @Georgia State University
The democratic gem, the United States, is undergoing extensive backsliding due in part to gerrymandering. Gerrymandering by definition means to divide - to divide a state into districts as to unfairly …
When America Forgets Itself: How the GOP is Destroying Traditional Democratic Norms by Trey Robinson @ Georgia State University
Much of what the media addresses surrounding the Trump administration is over possible misconduct that is neither actually proven, nor serious enough to force any true backlash against them. This …
Can Gun Control Return the Power to the People? by Wyeth Taylor @ Skidmore College
Today it is undeniable one of the most divisive issues in American politics is centered around gun control. It is a deeply partisan issue, with the core value of the Second Amendment struggling …
Populist or Not, Trump’s Stance on Immigration Gives People the Chance to Stand Up for Democracy by Jillian Seigel @ Skidmore College
The United States was founded through immigration and has continued to be a destination for many people. The issue of immigration has been a partisan issue for decades because of what political …