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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">I’m interested to know people’s thoughts about the
advisability of civil society promoting the “rough consensus” model of decision
making as differing from what I will call “UN consensus”.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">“UN consensus” is what we see happening in most UN
decision making processes, some related international organisations, and also
saw at NetMundial. This consensus model allows any one party to stand against
adoption of any particular wording, even if the vast majority of parties present
think otherwise. This leads to some less acceptable outcomes.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">I think it is reasonable to say that “UN consensus” has
been stifling in many instances and has inhibited progress in many areas.
</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Rough consensus could lead to different outcomes. For
instance, in the NetMundial situation, it would have led to the stronger
statements on surveillance, intermediate liability and net neutrality being
maintained in the text, rather than being removed at the last moment due to the
demands of a small number of government and business interests. </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">In other words, in this example at least, the mood of
the meeting and the desires of the vast majority of participants would have been
better reflected with a rough consensus decision making mechanism than with UN
style consensus.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">However, there is a danger here – minorities are not
necessarily protected in rough consensus and more widespread adoption of a rough
consensus decision making model could lead to suppression of some viewpoints.
However, in a stakeholder model such as NetMundial needing rough consensus in
all stakeholder groups would offer significant protection.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> </FONT><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">So I am
interested in any thoughts on the best model for us to promote here.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt">Ian
Peter</P></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>