[governance] DRAFT IGC Response to Questionnaire on improvements

Milton L Mueller mueller at syr.edu
Sat Nov 13 10:36:56 EST 2010


Dierdre,
Let's play devil's advocate: Why are regional and national IGFs a "huge outcome?"
If a global IGF doesn't accomplish anything, multiplication of the model at lower levels doesn't accomplish anything, either, right?
In particular, what do national IGF's accomplish that are not possible within the framework of existing national institutions?

From: Deirdre Williams [mailto:williams.deirdre at gmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, November 13, 2010 8:22 AM
To: governance at lists.cpsr.org; Ginger Paque
Cc: McTim; Izumi AIZU; cstd at igf-online.net
Subject: Re: [governance] DRAFT IGC Response to Questionnaire on improvements

I have a problem anyway about "tangible outcomes" - I can feel Rui breathing down my neck :-)
I feel that the proliferation of national and regional IGFs is a HUGE outcome which can certainly be demonstrated and documented if not actually touched.
Also, as Ginger suggests, remote participation and the access it affords to the previously excluded.
Galvanising a huge chunk of the whole world into some type of action - holding national and regional meetings - in just 5 years, is something like finding Archimedes lever, and I think we should look at it like that.

Under #2 I wonder whether it would be possible to produce brief summary reports, in layman's language, WITHOUT ANY ACRONYMS, for dissemination to those who are currently "outsiders".
Also I wish we could think of a "sexy" approach to involve the print and broadcast media in spreading the word. A comic strip? A soap opera?

#3 I am from a developing country. Recently an NGO here had a problem for which it hired consultants. It then transpired that the same problem had been addressed by consultants 10 years ago, and the report, the recommendations, had sat on the shelf, unused, essentially "lost", for 10 years. Recommendations may be tangible but they are frequently seen as an end in themselves rather than being a plan for a "way forward". I am rather "anti" about recommendations, unless they are accompanied by some type of actual "implementation".

#4 para 2 there is an important "not" missing I think -  "have NOT yet gained sufficient level of work at IGF"

I like #6b and I LOVE #6e :-)

Thank you for making the draft

Deirdre
On 13 November 2010 08:33, Ginger Paque <gpaque at gmail.com<mailto:gpaque at gmail.com>> wrote:
I agree with McTim strongly on this...
There is no reason to emphasize a 'negative' position on achieving the assigned outcome.

In fact, I think it makes more sense to note that there have been many have been tangible and intangible positive outcomes directly/indirectly from the IGF process, beyond awareness-raising and bringing IG issues to regional IGF meetings--what about the emergence and development of the multistakeholder model? How about the advances in remote participation, permitting greater inclusion in global policy processes? What about the diffusion and replication of best practices?

The question doesn't ask about our frustration, it asks what we consider the most important achievement. If we must point out the frustration, should it not at least be balanced by appreciation for \ the positive effects? At least we should answer the question!

Thanks for doing this work. Much appreciated. I am in the middle of a workshop in Tobago, and have not reviewed carefully. I think others should voice their positions as well.

Ginger (Virginia) Paque
IGCBP Online Coordinator
DiploFoundation
www.diplomacy.edu/ig<http://www.diplomacy.edu/ig>

The latest from Diplo...
http://igbook.diplomacy.edu <http://igbook.diplomacy.edu/> is the online companion to An Introduction to Internet Governance, Diplo's publication on IG. Download the book, read the blogs and post your comments.

On 11/12/2010 10:58 PM, McTim wrote:

Pretty good reply overall.



I would strike "Yet we still have not seen real tangible outcome

directly out of IGF process."



As there are not supposed to be real tangible outcomes, are there??



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