[governance] multistakeholderism

[David Allen]

> I really do not see big differences between ... It is a little bit  
> playing with words

This comes perilously close to demeaning the original author.  That  
author most likely did not see his carefully thought-out propositions  
to be 'playing with words'...  Such is not convivial for the quality  
exchange we have seen on this list of late.  Instead, if we take care  
to respect the view we do not share, then our contrary reasons and  
evidence may help to find even more enlightened synthesis.

MS'ism - as practiced in Internet Governance - has been a means to try  
and insert more viewpoints into United Nations processes.  Whether  
that will 'work' is still unclear.  Power, as held by the states, is  
the starting point.  Will they cede and share some power?  That is the  
core question.  Certainly, MS'ism is what has given the likes of CS  
some seat at the table.  Indeed, that is to be treasured.  Has it also  
created the possibility for co-opting CS, by picking and choosing  
which CS voices are chosen, from amid the cacophony?  Has CS (or for  
that matter the other 'estate') been given 'equal time'?

There is a backdrop against which this has occurred.  On that much  
larger canvas, there are the seemingly ever-present pressures for  
expansion, finally now toward what some would characterize as a global  
polity.  In a recent post, if I remember, the Internet has been dubbed  
a new form of [effectively global] government.  Others have sought new  
forms of democratized governance, globally, seeing a failure of states  
per se and of the elected and representative forms of government so  
far in place.

As far as I can see, the Internet is a form of communication.  But  
people govern - communications tools, such as the Internet, can be  
turned to one or the other means, means often with very different end  
effects.  (Much) more than that, there is a dearth of thoughtfully- 
worked out detail for what will replace representative forms of  
governance.

This larger canvas can situate the present subject:  MS'ism might  
indeed be a 'step along the way.'  But what are further steps,  
realistically? and at some (at least intermediate) end points, what  
forms of governance, concretely? reliably worked out?

Heading that direction could be one goal of quality exchange, such as  
here.

David
____________________________________________________________
You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
     governance at lists.cpsr.org
To be removed from the list, send any message to:
     governance-unsubscribe at lists.cpsr.org

For all list information and functions, see:
     http://lists.cpsr.org/lists/info/governance

Translate this email: http://translate.google.com/translate_t