[governance] Name - Global Alliance?

[lissjeffrey at sympatico.ca]

Language evolves, however sometimes we may wish to retrieve ancient meanings 
for a contemporary purpose.
Alliance seems a sensible choice, at least within an english and french 
lexicon.

Many of us active in the civil society sector use this term alliance when we 
refer to a willing coalition  of groups that plan on some joint action to a 
mutually agreeable purpose; just as important, alliance means to we who use 
this term that such agreements permit allies to retain their respective, 
distinctive identities (and missions). Homogeneity is discouraged, diversity 
is encouraged, in this use of the term 'alliance.'

The term alliance works in both French and English, which is of course a 
plus in Canada.

Alliance Francaise is an important group here, for instance.

The roots of the term lie in "to bind together." ( Source: Skeat's A Concise 
Etymological Dictionary of the English language). This deep root sense seems 
worth stressing, rather than the other considerations.

(again, I recognize that this is an anglo french vocabulary perspective, and 
thus others may have their own takes. However alliance can always be 
'translated' into a term with similar intent, where  one exists. )

=========
It is important to forge a language for the internet-enabled knowledge 
society/culture.
But of course this discussion is about more than words, eh?

On the substantive front, our pan Canadian 'netizen alliance' -- the 
eCommons/agora -- has now joined others in signing onto the parallel Citizen 
Summit. We will be announcing and listing activities in Canada soon.

Wishing clarity and courage for all actors in Wsis 2 and the Citizen Summit.

Liss Jeffrey, PhD
Founding director, eCommons/agora
Civil society member, Canadian government delegation, Wsis 1

www.ecommons.net
http://wsis.ecommons.ca

Executive editor
NetiZen News
connecting conversations everywhere

Director, McLuhan global research network
McLuhan Program
University of Toronto

Founder
byDesign eLab
eLab exists not to reiinvent the wheel, but to connect the spokes
=======================================================


>From: "Jovan Kurbalija" <jovank at diplomacy.edu>
>To: "'Gurstein, Michael'" <gurstein at ADM.NJIT.EDU>, 
><governance at lists.cpsr.org>
>Subject: Re: [governance] Name - Global Alliance?
>Date: Fri, 11 Nov 2005 15:52:55 +0100
>
>Thanks, Michael, for this useful insight. Language evolves... and Google is
>probably more relevant than the Encyclopaedia Britannica (an excerpt from
>the Britannica is enclosed) since Google reflects how language is used NOW.
>The only consideration is to check if the same understanding of "alliance"
>is shared both by different professions (beyond IG/ICT circles) and,
>globally, by different national cultures. It has to be a GLOBAL alliance.
>Can we conduct a quick survey of intercultural and interprofessional
>communication?
>
>Jovan
>
>
>Excerpt from the Encyclopaedia Britannica:
>
>......alliances provide for combined action on the part of two or more
>independent states and are generally defensive in nature, obligating allies
>to join forces if one or more of them is attacked by another state or
>coalition. Although alliances. (need to subscribe for full text...)
>
>
>
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