[governance] Workshop on the role of Government in IG

Tue Mar 24 05:18:17 EDT 2009

Dear all,

Interesting exchange. And a good progressive refinement on the topic. This
is clearly something of interest for all stakeholders.

Such a workshop clearly would build upon the now famous IG definition of
art. 34 of the TAIS:

A working definition of Internet governance is the development and
application by governments, the private sector and civil society, *in their
respective roles*, of shared principles, norms, rules, decision-making
procedures, and programmes that shape the evolution and use of the Internet.

There is considerable discussion about what the "respective roles" are and
Article 35 is not completely satisfactory in that respect.

I have always argued that the "respective roles" of the different
stakeholders can (and should) vary according to : the issue, the venue where
it is discussed and the stage of the discussion. Such a workshop would
probably benefit from exploring in some detail those various dimensions, to
move beyond the classic oppositions on abstract principles into more
operational territory.

In particular, there is a sort of symmetry between the ICANN space where
governments want more say and more traditional IGOs where CS and business
want more say. This is all about "embodiment of the WSIS principles in
Internet Governance processes".

An important element is to define what is the expected outcome of the
workshop and in which of the categories identified in the MAG discussions it
fits : probably the one where actors know the different elements of the
debate but simply do not agree ... yet. Hence the format could be more an
open discussion than a panel of experts. But a key factor of success will be
to make sure that all the different viewpoints are represented in the room.

A way to do this would probably be to outreach ahead of time to a range of
key stakeholders to promote the workshop and make sure that they will
attend.

Important thread.

Best

Bertrand

On Tue, Mar 24, 2009 at 9:50 AM, Parminder <parminder at itforchange.net>wrote:

>  >Role of Governments in IG is an interesting topic and needs to be
> discussed. But in the context of multi-stakeholderism, why would the Caucus
> single out >Government and propose a theme "Role of Governments in IG" ?
>
> I agree, the workshop should be on a title something like
>
> "Global IG - the role of the governments, civil society and the private
> sector'.
>
> Just interrogating the role of governments is either reducing IG to CIR
> management, or, if we are speaking of all aspects of IG,  it is a bit
> presumptuous, in the sense that governments obviously see themselves in
> 'the' central role. We may want to challenge that, especially at the global
> level, but best to do with a workshop with the above kind of a title, that
> looking at the 'role of government in IG' which seem, at least to me, to
> suggest that it was something of a new and developing concept.
>
> Parminder
>
> Sivasubramanian Muthusamy wrote:
>
> Hello Ian
>
> Role of Governments in IG is an interesting topic and needs to be
> discussed. But in the context of multi-stakeholderism, why would the Caucus
> single out Government and propose a theme "Role of Governments in IG" ?
>
> This moves the role of Governments center stage with the roles of other
> stakeholder groups undiscussed.
>
> It would be more appropriate if the workshop is about the Role of various
> stakeholder groups, as a part of which, the role of Governments is debated.
>
> Sivasubramanian Muthusamy
> http://isocmadras.blogspot.com
>
>
> On Mon, Mar 23, 2009 at 12:52 AM, Ian Peter <ian.peter at ianpeter.com>wrote:
>
>>  I also agree this is a good proposal. There are three dimensions –
>>
>>
>>
>>    1. appropriate regulation/governmental involvement at a national level
>>    2. international co-operation of governments
>>    3. governmental involvement in global multistakeholder structures
>>
>>
>>
>> On the former – I know how this is organized at a national level differs
>> vastly from country to country. Has anyone done a detailed study on this we
>> could suggest for a panel?
>>
>>
>>
>> Similarly on the latter two – what are the current areas of international
>> co-operation across various organizations? Has anyone a good study on this?
>>
>>
>>
>> A couple of good introductory studies would be the key to a successful
>> workshop here.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Ian Peter
>>
>> PO Box 429
>>
>> Bangalow NSW 2479
>>
>> Australia
>>
>> Tel (+614) 1966 7772 or (+612) 6687 0773
>>
>> www.ianpeter.com
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>   ------------------------------
>>
>> *From:* Ginger Paque [mailto:gpaque at gmail.com]
>> *Sent:* 23 March 2009 05:19
>> *To:* governance at lists.cpsr.org
>> *Subject:* [governance] Workshop on the role of Government in IG
>>
>>
>>
>> Please post your interest and ideas for a workshop on the role of
>> government in IG on this thread.
>>
>> Milton L Mueller <mueller at syr.edu
>>
>> I think a WS on the role of Government in IG is useful for the IGF, and
>> for civil society to be the initiators. I see echoes of this theme in
>> current discussions of G7-G20, discussions of ICANN-GAC, discussions of
>> different actions of national governments, forum shopping, etc.
>>
>> Ralf Bendrath <bendrath at zedat.fu-berlin.de
>>
>> This would spark an interesting discussion, indeed. But please do not
>> equate "Internet Governance" with "ICANN" and only talk about the MAG and
>> the JPA. ;-)
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Ginger
>>
>>
>>
>> Ms. Virginia (Ginger) Paque
>>
>> DiploFoundation
>>
>> Coordinator IGCBP 09
>>
>>
>>
>> www.diplomacy.edu/ig
>>
>> VirginiaP at diplomacy.edu
>>
>>
>>
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>>
>
> ____________________________________________________________
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>

-- 
____________________
Bertrand de La Chapelle
Délégué Spécial pour la Société de l'Information / Special Envoy for the
Information Society
Ministère des Affaires Etrangères et Européennes/ French Ministry of Foreign
and European Affairs
Tel : +33 (0)6 11 88 33 32

"Le plus beau métier des hommes, c'est d'unir les hommes" Antoine de Saint
Exupéry
("there is no greater mission for humans than uniting humans")
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