[governance] multistakeholderism

[Daniel Kalchev]

The multistakeholderism (does this word have German origins? ;) model 
works only, in a way, when all parties involved have more or less 
comparable powers, or if you will, influence in the outcome. As it was 
rightly pointed out, this model does not involve taking decisions. 
Rather, it involves, what we used to call in the 'socialist era' -- 
"shared iressponsibility".

If you invite to the party 'stakeholders' that have little say in the 
final decision, or implementation, those parties will only serve as 
thesillent minority -- they will be "used" in the process to represent 
'votes', but will neither have their say heard (or, it will be heard and 
ignored immediately) nor will they be able to complain lately, because 
"you participated, right?". I have seen this happen too may times in 
different environments.

There is also another aspect of this model. Human nature is such, that 
small group of people end up abusing the rest. There is nothing in this 
model, at least in the 'internet governance' implementations, that 
prevents abuse form happening. When abuse happens, part of the 
stakeholders stop trusting the model and go away. Eventually, those who 
hold the control knobs, apply common sense and things are sort of 
repaired. If the parties with the knobs are corrupted -- the game ends.

Sorry if I sound too pessimistic or critical. :)

Daniel
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