Interview with Magalí Pagliano, a student in theBachelor’s program in International Studies who received an honorable mention in the regional essay contest for young people organized by Diálogo Político, a publication of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, for her essay “Digital Youth, Instant Democracy.”
The student discussed the topic of her essay, how her interest in the subject arose, explained the writing process, and described the skills she gained through her degree program that helped her complete it. She also talked about why she decided to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies, what her experience has been like, and her future plans.
The event took place from March 5 to April 5, 2021, as part of the fourth edition of the Short Article Contest.
What was your essay about?
The study sought to address the question: “What role do young people play in the formation of political parties in Latin America?”
It was a great opportunity to briefly analyze the challenges facing political parties in the region and to discuss the role of young people in shaping these parties and addressing these challenges.
Specifically, my article focuses on the idea that political objectives are out of step with the new institutional reality. It also addresses the introduction of the latest communication technologies into the political arena as a way to replace the traditional media through which demands were previously channeled.
I therefore argue that there is a significant disconnect between the political objective and the means by which it is pursued. And, in turn, I introduce the concept of “digital activism,” as defined by the author Mary Joyce.
It is also a reflection on young people’s disengagement from party politics, giving rise to a new trend centered on fighting for a cause. From my perspective, several of these points are leading to drastic changes in the region’s party systems. It is important for institutions to acknowledge these new factors and take action in response.
The title is “Digital Youth, Instant Democracy.” How do you connect these two concepts?
I think that sentence sums up the article’s main point. On the one hand, the “digital youth” represents the idea that young people are embracing new communication technologies as a way to express their political concerns.
On the other hand, “instant democracy” refers to the fact that these new technologies, as a medium, are, to a certain extent , faster, more accessible, and more open to facilitating the demands of democratic systems.
The two concepts are linked because young people are more engaged with the media, and because the media serves as a vehicle for democratic demands.
How did that concern arise?
Concerns arose as we observed changes in Latin American institutions and recognized the new role that technology has come to play in the political lives of young people. All of this poses a challenge to existing structures.
What was the production process like?
Actually, the idea was presented to me by CESCOS, the think tank where I’m doing my internship, at the end of March. The course was set to end in early April, so the writing process went pretty quickly.
When I saw the contest theme, I read a few pieces to get a better grasp of the subject and revisited some key points from other works I was already familiar with from my studies. That’s when I started writing, and the process was quite spontaneous and quick.
What skills did your degree program give you to help you achieve that?
On the one hand, thanks to courses on politics and the situation in Latin America, the program gave me a big boost.
When I saw the topic, as a student in the Bachelor’s program in International Studies, I already had a clear idea of what I was going to write. This was very important to me.
On the other hand, essay-style writing is something that is always encouraged in my classes through required assignments, which gave me a certain ease and practice when it came to writing the article.
You are pursuing a bachelor's degree in International Studies. It's a broad field of study, and graduates can go on to work in areas such as international trade, diplomacy, and academia, among others. Why did you decide to pursue this degree?
I chose the Bachelor's degree in International Studies because I was sure I wanted to pursue a career in the international field. But I wasn't sure whether it would be in international business or international relations.
It's a broad field of study, in the sense that it gives you a certain amount of freedom to choose among all the different areas. That's why I chose it. In any case, I always thought I'd focus more on the business side. However, as I progress, I'm finding myself increasingly drawn to the academic side.
What are your professional or academic plans for the future?
For now, I would like to pursue an academic career on the international stage. In the future, I hope to continue writing about topics that interest me and that can contribute to others and to the political debate.