In Brief: Perle Petit and Philip Lott, our new assistant editors
IN BRIEF WITH PERLE PETIT AND PHILIP LOTT
3 November 2022
As 9DL continues to deliver insightful commentary on the Indo-Pacific and prepares to offer new kinds of content in the coming months, our editorial team recently welcomed two new assistant editors — Perle Petit and Philip Lott.
With a busy summer already behind them, our Editor-in-Chief, Dr Manali Kumar recently took the opportunity to learn more about their interests and their early thoughts on what makes a strong article.
MK: Perle, your research interest lies in democratic backsliding, authoritarianism, and press freedom in Southeast Asia. Could you tell us a little bit about your interest in these topics?
PP: Democratic standards have been in freefall for a while now, and I think it’s more important than ever to study democracy and identify the most vulnerable areas for backsliding. Southeast Asia has been steadily autocratising over the years and one of the main areas under attack is independent media and journalists — all the more important considering that freedom of the press is one of the cornerstones of democracy. Without a free and independent press, we cannot access unbiased information about what’s happening in our own countries or around the world. According to Reporters Without Borders, Southeast Asia is currently in the bottom third of countries worldwide in terms of freedom of the press. Silencing independent and/or critical voices (as is happening dramatically in Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, and the Philippines) hinders the media’s democratic ‘watchdog’ role and can go as far as dramatically altering public opinion and influencing election results.
MK: Philip, you are an ‘Asia watcher’. Could you tell us about something that has piqued your interest of late?
PL: My main interest is how new technologies such as artificial intelligence are reshaping societies and how countries in the Indo-Pacific are weighing the benefits and risks of digital transformation. A more connected world offers plenty of opportunities; at the same time, we see how social media or semiconductor supply chains can cause friction. How technology is shaping tomorrow’s geopolitical realities in the region is another topic I continue to explore with passion. Additionally, I always keep tabs on Pakistan as one of the countries in South Asia with the most interesting trajectory while also facing enormous challenges. From separatist movements in Balochistan or oppositional politics to the US drone war and the Kashmir conflict, I continue to engage with a broad range of issues.
MK: What do you view as some of the key threats and opportunities, or changes our readers should be watching out for in the Indo-Pacific over the next few years?
PL: While the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues to be the dominating topic in Europe, I believe its impact on and significance for the Indo-Pacific region will only become clear in the coming years. Although the economic impacts are starting to materialise, the geopolitical aftermath and change in dynamics are yet to be decided.
Beyond the short term, climate change remains the most important issue in the Indo-Pacific (and beyond). The increase in droughts, floods, and health crises already demonstrates the effects of climate change that South Asia will continue to face. Adaptation is a necessity and — if done right — could offer a chance for a broader transformation in the region.
PP: In my opinion, an important ongoing threat is the weaponisation of information and the manipulation of media. Over the years, we’ve seen increased activity in disinformation and repression of independent media around election time, which is having a noticeable effect on the actual results (such as Marcos Jr’s intensive social media campaigning ahead of the Philippines election earlier this year). With elections in Cambodia and Thailand (as well as supposedly in Myanmar) coming up next year, we need to watch out for potentially results-altering state-sponsored information manipulation and disinformation.
It always takes time for legislation to catch up to digital developments, and globally we’re far behind in terms of dealing with the ‘information chaos’ we currently find ourselves in. Additionally, dealing with foreign interference via transnational disinformation campaigns and propaganda is a big problem that we don’t seem fully equipped to deal with yet.
MK: You are already working as researchers, can you share something of what you are currently focused on and what other areas of research might interest you in the future?
PP: At the moment, I am excited to be researching how to support democratic processes around election time. More specifically, I am researching what tactics opposition parties can use to challenge illiberal governments, including how opposition coalitions can effectively function pre- and post-election. At the same time, I am researching how governments consolidate their power via manipulating independent democratic institutions in illiberalising countries. I am hoping this research can ultimately serve a practical purpose and help support free and fair elections in countries that are backsliding.
PL: I am working a lot on city diplomacy and urban development in the transatlantic context at the moment. Going forward, I also want to explore the role of cities in the Indo-Pacific region. Cities and their institutions are innovation hubs and, due to their population density, are key to implementing policies such as climate-change mitigation and adaptation measures. As urbanisation is set to increase, city dynamics and their importance in global cooperation deserve more attention.
MK: You are both responsible for editing articles that are submitted from across the globe, which inevitably leads to variation in style and quality. What particularly grabs your attention when you review an article? What suggestions could you offer for contributors to help make their submissions more engaging?
PL: I am always captured by articles that dispel a popular myth and contribute to dismantling commonly held beliefs. While background information is always important, the clarity of the arguments makes or breaks an article. Whether I agree or disagree with the author is secondary, but concise or provocative arguments keep me engaged as a reader.
PP: Although it seems obvious, the title is a really important part of an article. A short memorable title that gives a sense of the text’s argumentation is key but is often only written as an afterthought. A title is what convinces people either to read an article or to scroll past it, so it’s really important to give serious consideration to how to title your piece when submitting it. It is also important to focus on making a few, well-reasoned points rather than trying to fit all your knowledge into one short article. Keep the structure and argument straightforward, focus on the title, and you’ll have an interesting article on your hands.
DISCLAIMER: All views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent that of the 9DASHLINE.com platform.
Biographies
Perle Petit and Philip Lott are assistant editors at 9DASHLINE.