[governance] Report on WCIT // Suggested Next Steps

Suresh Ramasubramanian suresh at hserus.net
Tue Apr 2 11:56:33 EDT 2013 

I will agree that this is a significant topic for the caucus to work on, but would propose that we be very clear on its scope.

The caucus might additionally suggest concrete steps on how they think ICT enabled growth can be facilitated in their various countries, and then once key issues in each country are identified, try to match existing / available skills and resources to areas where they are most needed.

--srs (iPad)

On 02-Apr-2013, at 21:18, "michael gurstein" <gurstein at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi Norbert,
> 
> Since I've just now been thinking about these issues within an OECD frame, the best simple set of objectives might be those articulated in the OECD Secretary-General’s Strategic Orientations "Ensuring that (ICT enabled) growth is socially responsible and for the benefit of all" (I'm sure that within the WSIS documents there are similar such phrases...
> 
> And the Caucus could I think, contribute to this research by agreeing on a statement that proposed that issues arising from these objectives (as for example the question of the impact of Internet based development on economic and social equality/inequality both intra-nationally and globally) would become a guiding theme for the WSIS +10 Summit and that resources within the UN system be directed to undertaking research in this regard (as for example through UNCTAD) in preparation for this meeting.
> 
> M 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Norbert Bollow [mailto:nb at bollow.ch] 
> Sent: Tuesday, April 02, 2013 8:06 AM
> To: governance at lists.igcaucus.org; michael gurstein
> Subject: Re: [governance] Report on WCIT // Suggested Next Steps
> 
> Hi Michael,
> 
> How would you describe the objectives of the needed research?
> 
> Is there anything that the Caucus could reasonably do to contribute to making the needed research happen?
> 
> Greetings,
> Norbert
> 
> 
> Michael Gurstein <gurstein at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> Excellent to raise these issues, Norbert, but I think it is 
>> inappropriate to cast these matters as "fears and concerns"... they 
>> are (potentially) statements of fact and the issue is how/when/who 
>> will effectively undertake the research needed to establish some of 
>> this.  (It seems like a useful undertaking for UNCTAD with its renewed 
>> research mandate for example.)
>> 
>> The problem in doing the research is that so many of the categories 
>> and assumptions of conventional research in this area are immensely 
>> value laden (take a look at how GNP is calculated sometime for
>> example) but if one starts one's research from an attempt to determine 
>> who is benefiting from ICT induced/enabled social and economic change 
>> (and who is not) and with the overall goal of finding policy 
>> mechanisms to help to ensure some degree of equity in longer term 
>> outcomes of these changes then we will be some considerable way along 
>> the path of understanding.
>> 
>> As I was trying to say in my comments to the WSIS +10 Review, I think 
>> that this is perhaps the most important area to be discussed in the 
>> WSIS +10 meeting itself (and to direct the research leading up to that 
>> meeting...
>> 
>> M
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: governance-request at lists.igcaucus.org
>> [mailto:governance-request at lists.igcaucus.org] On Behalf Of Norbert 
>> Bollow Sent: Tuesday, April 02, 2013 6:28 AM To:
>> governance at lists.igcaucus.org Subject: Re: [governance] Report on WCIT 
>> // Suggested Next Steps
>> 
>> Baudouin SCHOMBE <b.schombe at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> thank you for the reminder and I had completely escaped yet it is a 
>>> very important report that I must use for exchanges at the local 
>>> level. Again, thank you for this reminder. the report is downloaded 
>>> and will be sharing all away.
>>>> The report can be downloaded from:
>>>> http://www.slideshare.net/ocl999/what-happened-at-wcit-in-december
>>>> -2
>>>> 012
>> 
>> Here's one significant point that I think would be worthwhile to
>> discuss:
>> 
>> Page 24 contains this observation:
>> 
>>  It is generally believed by many countries from the “South” that the
>>  Internet is actually run and controlled by the United States and its
>>  allies – and that the network is used as a spearhead to weaken their
>>  own economies by bringing enormous social and political change at a
>>  pace that is disruptive, with no ability for those affected to
>>  control this. It is felt that the Internet is governed by the 
>> world’s strongest economies and multi-nationals for their own 
>> purposes. These are real concerns, not only by the government 
>> delegates present at WCIT, but felt by the average citizen in many of 
>> these countries.
>> 
>> Which parts of these observed fears and concerns are real unsolved 
>> problems, and which parts are just fruits of rhetorical dramatizations 
>> and fears that would go away if the concerned people would simply 
>> inform themselves reasonably well?
>> 
>> Greetings,
>> Norbert
>> 
>> P.S. [Note with coordinator's hat:] Just as a quick reminder: Attacks 
>> against a person's ability to effectively participate in the 
>> discussions on this list, and to be taken seriously in such 
>> discussions, are not allowed. For details see our charter 
>> http://igcaucus.org/charter .
> 
> 
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