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<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>Couple of observations
on points raised by Bill and Ralf.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>Firstly, the document
that the IGC adopted 2 years ago on the Forum functions etc looks pretty good.
No reason that we go back on any part if it, especially the more important ones,
of which the following line catches the spirit best. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>" forum for
discussion will not be particularly useful if it will not be coupled with the
ability to bring all stakeholders to agreement and <b><i><span
style='font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>determine actual changes (emphasis
added)</span></i></b>."<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>The logic of expedience and
prudence – that these possibilities are unlikely to be realized in the present
context, even when a good amount of support for them is available in the Tunis
Agenda text - is problematic for me. We need to stick to what we believe is the
right thing. Civil society is often the bearer of futuristic progressive ideas,
long before they are accepted and mainstreamed. In this case what we are asking
for is something which is already incorporated in the text of a global summit,
and there are other, strong, players who are asking for similar things –
even if this ‘meeting of minds’ is partial and very issue-specific.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>Giving in to the
prudence logic and lowering the threshold of what CS seeks from and of the IGF,
especially when other promised post-WSIS processes, like the enhanced cooperation,
either look entirely doomed, or in any case are likely to offer little space
for CS, simply means we – close to - accede to the status quo in IG
structures. This is politically unacceptable for many CS constituencies
worldwide, and we must take note of this fact. IGF is our strongest and the
best chance, and for this purpose we need a strong IGF – complete fulfillment
of Tunis Agenda is the minimum we ask for. We shouldn’t weaken our positions,
even if we have to carry them over to the IGF re-assessment after the 5<sup>th</sup>
year. Meanwhile, we can build our positions and allies and use the opportunities
we have – for instance, in the likely review of MAG structure after Rio –
to push for small gains here and there. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>Secondly, we must recognize
that there is a strong element of ‘conceptual and practical jump’
from a situation of – all may speak, and all views are equally valid, and
there is no further process of validation and legitimization of certain set of ‘views’,
‘opinions’ etc – to moving to any other level – even if
it is short of clear recommendation giving – for instance, making working
groups and study groups (can they not come out with some more or less clear
outcomes), or even, as per Tunis Agenda, interfacing with IG bodies (who
decides the issues and agenda) or promote and assess embodiment of WSIS principles
in IG bodies ( how! other than providing conference space for people to say
different things).<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>The IGF at present takes
the position of ‘we exercise no power’ to a ludicrous extent, and not
being able to decide on a speakers list for the main session is a resounding
proof of the absolute ineffectiveness of the present thinking about ‘what
is IGF’, and its present structures, to do anything more than what it is
doing at present. IGF will have to make some degree of a clean break from its
present conceptual mooring, and accept its representative character, on behalf
of the world community, and in that capacity to exercise power and make ‘decisions’.
It must take this decision for itself. If it doesn’t, we do not move an
inch forward from where we are. However, once this ‘decision’ is
taken, ‘where does the IGF stop’, or the delineation its ambit,
becomes the key issue – and these limits are given in the Tunis Agenda,
and also stated in IGC’s position of 2 years ago. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>Thirdly, the above
issues of effectiveness of IGF, beyond being an annual conference, are directly
linked to its structures, and the MAG is the primary structure here. We cannot speak
about effectiveness or mandate of IGF without speaking about the nature and
structure of MAG or any other such body. This core body has to become stronger
and more effective. A mere assemblage of thousands, by open invitation, that
IGF is at present cannot do much more than it is doing at present. It is this
core body which has to assume a good amount of responsibilities of ensuring the
fulfilling of the IGF mandate, with strong processes of transparency and accountability,
with multiple outward linkages. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>It is clear that an IGF
(MAG) that cannot decide a list of harmless speakers with the clear purpose of having
an engaging and effective public policy debate (the primary mandate of the IGF)
is most unlikely to be able to formulate any kind of recommendations. But then
it looks as impossible that it could do any other, what may be positioned as intermediate
or lesser, tasks – whether of effectively organizing and managing
sub-bodies – working groups, study groups, dynamic coalitions etc –
or, say, “identification of weaknesses and gaps in the governance
architecture”. (I am very interested in hearing about clear implement-able
ways this could be done by the IGF, given its present structure and orientation,
for none comes to my mind.)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>So, what we are looking at
here are more basic structural issues about what is IGF, and what it was meant
to be, and what it should and can be. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>Parminder <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>________________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Parminder Jeet Singh<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>IT for Change, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangalore</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Bridging Development Realities and Technological Possibilities <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Tel: (+91-80) 2665 4134, 2653 6890<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Fax: (+91-80) 4146 1055<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>www.ITforChange.net <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> -----Original Message-----</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> From: William Drake [mailto:drake@hei.unige.ch]</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2007 12:56 AM</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> To: Bendrath, Ralf; Governance</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> Subject: Re: [governance] Fulfilling the Mandate of the IGF</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> Hi Ralf,</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> Thanks for the input on the agenda of the IGC workshop.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> On 10/24/07 4:51 PM, "Ralf Bendrath" <<st1:PersonName
w:st="on">bendrath@zedat.fu-berlin.de</st1:PersonName>> wrote:</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> >> it¹s hard to see how</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> >> it could devise even recommendations,</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> > Wolfgang had the neat idea of multiple "messages"
that could come out of</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> > the coalitions' work or the IGF workshops and would not have
to be</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> > "adopted" by the final plenary.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> We could take up this, and other alternative ideas...</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> >> /39. The forum could provide, for example, the following
functions:</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> >></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> >> a. inclusive dialogue, with a differentiated architecture
allowing for</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> >> peer-level interaction where appropriate, for example in
Birds of a</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> >> Feather, working groups, study groups, plenaries, etc.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> >> /</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> >> [NB: Clearly a major difference here from annual meetings
only. Now</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> >> even the term, working group, is verboten.]</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> > But we have the dynamic coalitions.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> But they're free floating and don't have the sort of
institutionalized</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> relationship to the IGF that sub-bodies of other IG collaborations
have in</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> terms of recognition and ability to input, per the long-ago recs
of the</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> MMWG. Should we address that?</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> >> d. identification of weaknesses and gaps in the
governance</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> architecture,</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> >> i.e. "orphaned" or multidimensional issues that
do not fall neatly</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> >> within the ambit of any existing body;</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> > We're trying to address this for the privacy field (which is
"orphaned"</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> on</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> > the global level) at WS25(SEC) in <st1:place w:st="on">Rio</st1:place>.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> Right. But per the above, if you folks come up with some ideas,
what then</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> happens to them?</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> > What about support for "disadvantaged
stakeholders"? I lost track on</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> > travel fellowships etc. Are there any?</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> There's whatever <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Canada</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s
doing, and someone at the ITU told me today that</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> they are offering unspecified support to "18 people from
almost 15</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> developing countries, and 4 continents." No reply yet as to
whether any</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> are</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> nongovernmental.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> >> The workshop will of course focus not on the above, but
on the agreed</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> >> mandate.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> > It still could make sense to refer to positions pre-Tunis, in
order to</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> > show where the TA content came from and to show as CS that TA
is only a</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> > lowest common denominator, while we asked for more and still
want it.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> Hence my reply to Adam.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> Any other topical ideas?</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> Cheers,</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> BD</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> ____________________________________________________________</span></font></p>
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10.0pt'>> For all list information and functions, see:</span></font></p>
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10.0pt'>> http://lists.cpsr.org/lists/info/governance</span></font></p>
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