[governance] Workshop Proposals - a few days to go

Ian Peter ian.peter at ianpeter.com
Tue Mar 19 01:47:13 EDT 2013


I’m pulling Parminder’s proposal out of another thread for ease of comment and discussion, and also attaching some comments from Nnenna earlier on as regards workshop 2. We have just a few days to finalise this, I think all three workshop proposals are deserving of consideration.

But I would change the title of workshop 2 to something broader – eg “Multistakeholderism in practice – issues and principles” . Nnennas suggestions were

Objectives
  1.. Highlight lessons learned in MSism 
  2.. Explore what has worked in transparency, openness and inclusion 
  3.. Discuss possible principles for non-government stakeholder representation 
  4.. Propose working methods for IGF MSism going forward 
  5.. Deepen the Enhanced Cooperation debate 
  6.. Contribute a working document to the CSTD.
Nnenna also suggested

Maybe if "Civil Society" shares this with the other stakeholder, discussions may begin already and IGF will be a kind of coming together of discussions already held within the non-gov stakeholder groups. And drafting can take place.

To which I would add that the success of such a workshop (and probably even its approval) is dependent on the participation of other stakeholders. While I realise some people here would prefer a more direct reference and discussion on recent issues, I think a broader approach, while not avoiding these issues, is both pragmatic and also likely to lead to a better workshop.

And Parminder’s three workshop proposals are below.

From: parminder 
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2013 2:27 PM
To: governance at lists.igcaucus.org 
Subject: Re: [governance] COMMENTS SOUGHT: draft letter to ISOC on selection of T&A nominees for CSTD WG on EC


On Monday 18 March 2013 03:54 AM, Ian Peter wrote:

  I agree with the workshop idea as well, I think that might help if it is well run with an aim of achieving clarity and development of the multistakeholder concept. Would be happy to be involved in proposing such a workshop. But I would also want the workshop to be forward looking towards development of the concept and multistakeholder best practice rather than attempts to interpret past writings. 


  Dont we have an imminent deadline for workshop proposals? 


Yes, the deadline is in 3 days, the 22nd. Not sure if MAG members have asked for extension, since there was strong demand here and everywhere else for it. 

I propose that IGC puts forward 3 workshop proposals

One, on net neutrality - which is the policy question we raised in our submission to the MAG consultations. Since there was consensus on the 'policy question' the same can be presented as a workshop proposal without much ado.

Second should be a workshop on 'Modalities for selection of (non gov) stakeholder representatives for public bodies' .

Third, flows from (surprisingly) the only clear policy question idea was was proposed during the MAG meeting. This was done by Thomas Schneider of the Swiss government, and supported by Bill. I am not clear about the wordings used but it was the key WCIT issue of 'how traditional telecom regulations, and regulatory norms and institutions, apply or dont apply to the Internet' . Having witnesses the turmoil of and around WCIT, there could be few more pertinent policy related questions than this one. So, well I propose we have a workshop on this question.  

Co-coordinators may take on from here. A proforma for submitting workshops proposals is online now at http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/proposals  


parminder 






  Ian 



  -----Original Message----- From: Anriette Esterhuysen 
  Sent: Monday, March 18, 2013 9:03 AM 
  To: governance at lists.igcaucus.org 
  Subject: Re: [governance] COMMENTS SOUGHT: draft letter to ISOC on selection of T&A nominees for CSTD WG on EC 


  Dear all 

  I share Ian's reaction.  This conversation counter-productive. 

  Many of the processes we are establishing are still new, and need to be 
  tested and improved. CS processes are imperfect (as I have said before) 
  and no doubt so are those of other constituencies. But I don't believe 
  that attacking another constituency will produce any positive results 
  whatsoever. A more productive way of dealing with this, and Bill 
  proposes this, is to have a serious discussion among non-governmental 
  SGs about how to improve processes. 

  My proposal would be that at this point we allow the CSTD Chair to 
  complete the selection process, and the WG to start its work. 

  And then CS, the TA (as currently defined) and Business convene a 
  workshop at the next IGF to share experiences, raise concerns, and try 
  and identify good practice approaches to the selection of non-gov 
  stakeholder group  representation in multi-stakeholder IG processes. We 
  could also discuss the categorisation of these 
  constituency groups, and the ambiguity around the definitions of the TA 
  community, and provide an input to the CSTD WG for its discussion. 

  Anriette 



  On 17/03/2013 22:01, Ian Peter wrote: 

    So much of this conversation is becoming unproductive (particularly 
    that in response to Constance's letter) that I almost feel like 
    dropping involvement on this issue altogether. 

    But there is a serious issue of academic community involvement and 
    clarification on how they should be included in the "academic and 
    technical" category. I think that is a matter for CSTD to clarify, not 
    ISOC or any individual. I would support a letter to CSTD asking for 
    clarification here in the light of various statements made, as others 
    have suggested. But I would not support an accusatory or complaining 
    letter to anyone. 

    Irrespective of anyone else's actions, beliefs, or mistakes, I think 
    keeping the "civil" in civil society is important in achieving our 
    objectives here. 

    Ian Peter 


    -----Original Message----- From: William Drake 
    Sent: Sunday, March 17, 2013 9:07 PM 
    To: governance at lists.igcaucus.org ; parminder 
    Subject: Re: [governance] COMMENTS SOUGHT: draft letter to ISOC on 
    selection of T&A nominees for CSTD WG on EC 

    Hi Parminder 

    snipping... 

    On Mar 16, 2013, at 12:35 PM, parminder mailto:parminder at itforchange.net 
    wrote: 


        but instead we're dealing with self-defined tribes.  Conflating the 
        'technical' and the 'academic' communities into one category just 
        triples down on the problem.  This is utter nonsense 


      I dont see it as nonsense. Both groups represent some kind of 
      'expertise' and not constituency representation, and thus it is very 
      logical to put them together. 


    So your answer to academics being disenfranchised by being lumped with 
    the TC is to disenfranchise the TC?  So the topography would be just 
    governments, business and CS, only they'd have defined constituency 
    representation roles...I don't agree since there's a substantial 
    independent constituency being represented by the TC, one that's 
    bigger than the IGC. But a bit more important than our respective 
    views are the facts on the ground;  the TC  is recognized in the 
    topography and that's not going to change because some CS folks don't 
    like it.  Given that reality, there's no logical basis for them to 
    deemed the representative of academics as well. There are academics 
    who are properly in the TC because of their areas of disciplinary 
    expertise and outlook, and there are academics who don't see 
    themselves that way and feel they are CS. 

    Relatedly, I also disagree with Anriette's suggestion that 
    non-technical academics be viewed as a separate stakeholder group. 
    Sure, it'd be nice for us to have our own little sandbox to build and 
    demand our very own seats at the table, and hiving us off from CS 
    could mean an increase in progressive voices etc.  But we don't 
    represent our students, colleagues, or institutions when we 
    participate in these processes…we're individuals who can represent the 
    networks we share views with etc.  My concern is that individual CS 
    people often get unduly short shrift relative to CSO staff in some 
    settings, but that's another conversation. 


      So, should then CS refrain from saying anything about or to the 
      governments, the ICANN plus community, ISOC, and the private sector. 
      Then what is the work we are left with - to fight among ourselves? 


    Well, there's something to be said for sticking with what you're good 
    at…but of course not, it just depends on context.  It's one thing when 
    other SGs are making decisions that affect everyone, e.g. TC bodies 
    that set policies, and another they're positioned as parallel peers in 
    a process.  We might think it odd for the business community to write 
    to us expressing concern about how the IGC operates, no?   If there's 
    to be a push for different approaches in the TC's self-governance, 
    it'd be better coming from within the TC than from us.  Of course, 
    experience suggests that's not easy in practice, but the principal 
    remains valid. 


      If we cannot send a simple transparency seeking query to ISOC, and 
      seek clarifications about how they include or exclude nominations to 
      be sent on behalf 'tech/acad community' - -  which is a public role 
      entrusted to them my a public authority - simply becuase we need to 
      be friendly with ISOC, it is really very problematic. 


    My suggestion would be to not do a bilateral adversarial inquiry, but 
    instead to try to launch a broader collegial discussion about the 
    processes followed by the three nongovernmental SGs and ways to 
    enhance our coordination where desirable.  I don't know whether we 
    could entice anyone into that at this point, but if there's bandwidth 
    it could be worth a try. 

    Best 

    Bill 






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