[governance] Letter to Rod Beckstrom

[Meryem Marzouki]

Bertrand, you intervention in this discussion might also help in case  
there is a difference in the concept of "institution" in French and  
in English..
My point is not with the global or not global nature of ICANN. It is  
rather with qualifying it or not as an "institution".
I already acknowledged that it makes global decision, impacting the  
whole world: not sure it makes it truly global, but sort of. I also  
acknowledge that, say, a really big multinational firm (whatever its  
sector of activity: finance, security/military, industry, service..)  
could be a global entity, in the same sense.
But an institution, at least in my understanding, has something to do  
with social order. For better or for worse (an institution is not  
necessarily democratic), but its purpose is social (like in society,  
not necessarily like in social justice).
I don't think ICANN has any social purpose. Not that it doesn't deal  
with issues having highly social implications -- it does, but the  
point is that it has NOT been designed as such. And, to be honest, I  
don't think there is any reasonable hope to modify it so that its  
start looking like an institution.

Hope this starts answering your questions, and that this might  
explain why I think CS (nor governments, BTW) shouldn't *participate*  
in its processes since, yes, they legitimize it this way, and they  
make it somewhat look like an institution, when it is not, and wont  
become, in my opinion.

Best,
Meryem

Le 20 sept. 09 à 18:34, Bertrand de La Chapelle a écrit :

> Dear Meryem,
>
> Looking at your interesting exchange with Milton regarding the  
> "global" or non global nature of ICANN, I'd like to ask two  
> complementary questions :
> - what would be required in your view to make ICANN truly global ?  
> what kind of modification ?
> - and can such an outcome be obtained without participating in  
> ICANN's processes, (which brings the risk of legitimizing it, if I  
> understand you well) ?
>
> These questions are not jokes. I think you both touch upon very  
> difficult issues that a lot of people are grappling with. I  
> sincerely am interested in practical suggestions. The issue of  
> ICANN's accountability to all stakeholders will be high on the  
> agenda in the post-JPA framework.
>
> Best
>
> Bertrand
>
>
>
> The whole point with ICANN in this discussion is that it is NOT a
> "global institution".
>
> Not sure what you mean here. If its effects are global and it is  
> institutionalized it is, in my definition, a global institution.  
> And ICANN more or less meets both criteria. I am sure you  
> understand that no global polity will spring perfectly into being.
>
> Sure. But my definition is different from yours. I think ICANN is  
> an organization, led and driven by private companies and interests  
> (including multi-nationals), still having to be somewhat  
> accountable to the US gov, but willing to get rid of this. Well,  
> this is quickly written and misses many details and subtleties, but  
> that's to explain why, in my opinion, it doesn't fit any acceptable  
> definition of a global institution. I think your definition is too  
> inclusive here.
>
>
> rules. Because if you enter it, you back it, whatever the genuineness
> of your intentions and efforts.
>
> Yes, one does have to make choices. If it's a choice between the  
> DNS and IP addresses being taken over by states/IGOs or some  
> modification and evolution of the ICANN/RIR regime I've made my  
> choice.
>
> You fall into this again. I've thought we've gone beyond the ICANN  
> vs. ITU debate?
>
>
>
>
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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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