[governance] Pro-multistakeholderist versus pro-democracy viewpoints

[Barry Shein]

From: Deirdre Williams <williams.deirdre at gmail.com>
>I should still like to know what is a "stake" - the thing that is held by
>the stakeholder.

One could argue that the vampire-killer van Helsing is a stakeholder.

More seriously although one can be reductionist and argue that anyone
and everyone is a stakeholder the term in my experience generally is
short for "stakeholder group" or members thereof.

  An identifiable group bound by some common purpose which has a valid
  interest in the outcome of policy processes sufficient to deserve
  standing in that policy process.

That's all well and good but it doesn't help much in defining a
process or minimum qualifications for enfranchisement.

For one thing it doesn't indicate what authority recognizes and
enfranchises a stakeholder (group).

ICANN defines formally enfranchised stakeholders via their by-laws
specifically articles VIII-XII and annexes as further detailed by
board actions within the scope of those by-laws.

Those by-laws can be amended by the board so ultimately the ICANN
board of directors defines the stakeholder groups which ICANN
enfranchises.

Although the term "stakeholder group" is used repeatedly in those
by-laws there does not seem to be any attempt to define what
qualifications an entity must have for consideration as a new
stakeholder group although they are added from time to time by board
action.

It's likely there are other useful ICANN reference documents to
clarify these points, perhaps someone can point them out.

-- 
        -Barry Shein

The World              | bzs at TheWorld.com           | http://www.TheWorld.com
Purveyors to the Trade | Voice: 800-THE-WRLD        | Dial-Up: US, PR, Canada
Software Tool & Die    | Public Access Internet     | SINCE 1989     *oo*

-------------- next part --------------
____________________________________________________________
You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
     governance at lists.igcaucus.org
To be removed from the list, visit:
     http://www.igcaucus.org/unsubscribing

For all other list information and functions, see:
     http://lists.igcaucus.org/info/governance
To edit your profile and to find the IGC's charter, see:
     http://www.igcaucus.org/

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