The multistakeholder model is regularly extolled as a unique feature of Internet governance that enables the perspectives of diverse stakeholders to be brought into policy processes, to produce more inclusive and better informed outcomes. But what theory underlies this multistakeholder model, and how are the stakeholders who participate in multistakeholder processes qualified to do so?Unfortunately, the lack of understanding of these basic questions can conceal deep differences between different multistakeholder processes, that can result in considerable divergence in their diversity, their accessibility, their vulnerability to capture, and the quality of their outputs.This session will seek to unpack the term "multistakeholder" in order to provide a solid conceptual footing of the concept. This knowledge in turn can assist those seeking to apply this innovation in governance without falling prey to its traps, as well as those criticizing or seeking to improve its application in existing institutional contexts.Topics to be discussed in this class include:
- History and development of the multistakeholder model
- How does the model relate to government and democracy?
- Who are the stakeholders in multistakeholder Internet governance?
- What are the appropriate boundaries for the application of the multistakeholder model?
What is the evidence saying on how multistakeholder spaces promote dialogue, deliberation and inclusion within a democratic framework? How can policy processes (global and national) recognise and work towards the principle of participation emphasised in the WSIS documents? Can multistakeholderism support substantive, and not just formal, participation? How can we think of participatory governance approaches in IG for the public good or public interest? These are some questions that the lecture will address.
Class Outline: Various stakeholders of Internet governance will be explained in this part;
3.1.1 Public Sector: Domestic public sector, and International organization
Video: 2016 APSIG by Jeremy Malcolm
References
Vincent Chen, Multistakeholder approach works, Medium, 2016. [Chinese, English Translation]
Kilnam Chon, Multistakeholderism - History, 2015/2019rev.
William J. Drake 2011: Multistakeholderism: Internal Limitations and External Limits, http://dl.collaboratory.de/mind/mind_02_neu.pdf.
GCIG, One Internet, 2016.
Internet Society, Internet Actors and Stakeholder Groups, in Shaping the Internet,Inforum Course, 2015.
John Savage and Bruce McConnell, Exploring multistakeholder internet governance, East West Institute, 2015.
Anri van der Spuy, What if we all goverened the internet?, UNESCO, 2017.
Asia Internet History – Third Decade (2000s), 2016.
Laura DeNardis and Mark Raymond, Multistakeholderism: Anatomy of an Inchoate Global Institutions, 2014.
Internet Society, Internet actors and stakeholder groups, Shaping the Internet, Inforum Course, 2015.
NETmundial Internet Goverenance Principles, 2014.
WSIS, Tunis Agenda, 2005