process Re: [bestbits] [Meeting Report]: friday meeting with fadi et all

[joy]

Thanks for this useful input Anja, which i also agree with.
and just to say that I am also very comfortable with spaces created for
discussions to initiate or develop in this way esp in relation to your
point about power dynamics and transparency as a means to an end: I am
very familiar with this as a human rights defender where discussions
often happen in spaces that are created or designed for this similar
kind of purpose eg among women's rights activitists or disabled or
indigenous people and other groups: in that context such spaces are
generally respected by others, and even at times there are groups within
these groups.  
in the best bits context i am also comfortable with the fluid working
groups methods that are evolving around those who want to work on
specific issues together doing so and reporting back: as somone who
cannot work on all issues, i actually find it very helpful.
Joy

On 1/11/2013 6:29 a.m., Carolina Rossini wrote:
> +1
>
>
> On Thu, Oct 31, 2013 at 11:44 AM, Anja Kovacs
> <anja at internetdemocracy.in <mailto:anja at internetdemocracy.in>> wrote:
>
>     Dear all,
>
>     I have been in favour of keeping some discussions closed, at least
>     in the early stages, for quite a while, and have been so for the
>     reasons John and Kivuva point out: other stakeholder groups do so
>     all the time, and a strategic argument to keep parts of a
>     conversation limited to a smaller group does not mean that
>     conversation cannot be reported back on to a larger group. As long
>     as the latter happens, need more closed conversations really be a
>     problem?
>
>     As again confirmed during the Best Bits meeting, two specific
>     characteristics of Best Bits as a network are that it is
>     action-oriented and that it seeks to bridge the differences and
>     disagreements between the Global South and North.
>
>     To my mind, the strategy of being transparent at all times is one
>     of the main reasons why action is often inhibited and civil
>     society is often less effective than it could be. This is not only
>     because we put all our cards on the table all the time - something
>     which puts other stakeholders at an advantage. It is also because
>     fully open lists do not encourage sharing certain kinds of
>     information and ideas that could actually help to massively
>     improve effectiveness of civil society action (and as is the case
>     so often, perhaps Global South civil society is perhaps more
>     vulnerable here than Global North civil society).
>
>     In fact, if Best Bits has been working, it is because so much is
>     actually done by small groups of people who want to do something,
>     trust each other, start coordinating, and then bring their ideas,
>     once crystallised, to the main list (what are now called "fluid
>     working groups" in BB lingo ;)
>
>     If we ignore this reality, this will only be at our own peril.
>
>     I don't see transparency as an end in itself, but is a means to an
>     end, which is the creation of a level playing field. Because of
>     power differentials, different stakeholder groups are differently
>     placed in this field, and whatever strategies we decide on should
>     keep this in mind. The redistribution of power should drive our
>     actions, not transparency as such.
>
>     Thanks and best regards,
>     Anja
>
>     ____________________________________________________________
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>
>
>
> -- 
> *Carolina Rossini* 
> /Project Director, Latin America Resource Center/
> Open Technology Institute
> *New America Foundation*
> //
> http://carolinarossini.net/
> + 1 6176979389
> *carolina.rossini at gmail.com <mailto:carolina.rossini at gmail.com>*
> skype: carolrossini
> @carolinarossini
>

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