Global Internet Governance: An Interdisciplinary Research Field in Construction

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Global Internet Governance: An Interdisciplinary Research Field in Construction

A GigaNet workshop, organized in cooperation with GDR TICS and DEL Networks

Paris, 23 June 2008 – 08:30-13:30

University Paris III Sorbonne Nouvelle – Institut du Monde Anglophone

Detailed Program

(Workshop website: http://tinyurl.com/2nww9t)

Workshop Presentation and Objectives

The purpose of the workshop, the first of its sort, is to allow scholars involved in Internet Governance-related research to describe their ongoing research projects to other scholars in the field, in order to share ideas, forge possible collaborations, and identify emerging research themes in the field. Scholars from various academic disciplines and all regions of the world are expected to contribute to this reflexive exercise, with the long-term objective of collectively building this interdisciplinary research field.

What is global Internet governance and what it is not? Are there any differences in the way this process is understood, defined and implemented in different regions of the world? Is it sensitive to political and cultural backgrounds and traditions, and if so to which extent and in which ways?

How is Internet governance different from, and related to, global governance of other information and communication technologies? What could be the invariants of a global governance process, irrespective of the domain area it addresses? What are the national and regional projects and networks currently pursuing research on Global Internet Governance? Is there any academic syllabus or other education program dedicated to these issues?

These are among the many questions to be introduced by the workshop roundtables and to be discussed with the audience.

Workshop Format Overview

Rather than featuring academic paper presentations, the workshop aims at providing a survey of current academic activities in the field of global Internet governance. The workshop is mainly organized around the 3 roundtables described below. They will address issues having emerged from the submitted contributions. Panelists have been selected among the authors of these contributions after the evaluation process conducted by the workshop committee.

The committee received a high number of contributions, but due to the limited duration of the workshop, only some of their authors could have been included as panelists in the program.

Submitted abstracts focusing on global Internet governance research questions are all published on the workshop website, in order to allow all workshop attendees and other interested scholars to learn more about academic activities in the global Internet governance field.

The roundtable format has been chosen as a way to foster lively discussions and ensure a fruitful debate. There will not be any slide presentation during the roundtable sessions. Panelists as well as the whole audience are expected to read in advance selected abstracts published on the workshop website, as they will be the basis of roundtable discussions.

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Workshop Program

09:00-09:30 – Opening Session

 Welcoming Remarks by Workshop Chair

Meryem Marzouki, CNRS & University Pierre et Marie Curie, France

 Presentation of Global Internet Governance Academic Network by GigaNet Chair Nanette S. Levinson, American University, USA

 Presentation of French ICT and Society Academic Network by GDR TICS Co-Chair Eric Brousseau, University Paris X Nanterre, France

 Presentation of French Electronic Democracy Academic Network by DEL Co-Chair Thierry Vedel, CNRS & Sciences Po, France

 Contributions and Program Overview by Workshop Chair

09:30-10:15 – Roundtable: Models, Players, and Democratic Principles

This roundtable will discuss research activities dealing with global Internet governance institutional issues. It will address governance sources, models and regimes and explore the role of different players and their interactions in such processes. These evolutions and their impact on human rights and democratic principles will be examined.

Chair: Thierry Vedel, CNRS & Sciences Po, France Panelists:

 William J. Drake, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Switzerland

 Mirina Grosz, University of Zürich, Switzerland

 Matthias C. Kettemann, University of Graz, Austria

 Nanette S. Levinson, American University, USA

 Elena Pavan, University of Trento, Italy

10:15-10:45 – Coffee break

, sponsored by GDR TICS-CNRS

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10:45-11:30 – Roundtable: Regulation Policies and Regulatory Issues

This roundtable will focus on research activities related to regulation policies and specific regulatory issues of concern with global Internet governance. A diversity of approaches and perspectives will be discussed. The use of technology for regulation purposes will particularly be examined.

Chair: Eric Brousseau, University Paris X Nanterre, France Panelists:

 Leo van Audenhove, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium

 Ralf Bendrath, Technische Universiteit Delft, The Netherlands

 Milton L. Mueller, Technische Universiteit Delft, The Netherlands

 Jose do Nascimento, University Paris-Sud 11, France

 Cheryl B. Preston, Brigham Young University, USA

 Katharine Sarikakis, University of Leeds, United Kingdom

11:30-12:15 – Roundtable: Regional Perspectives and Sociocultural Issues

This roundtable will look at global Internet governance research activities from regional perspectives and sociocultural approaches, discussing whether local or other community specific dimensions could be identified. Last but not least, discussions will explore Internet governance international curricula, and discuss their potential role in shaping common understanding and shared values.

Chair: Divina Frau-Meigs, University Paris III Sorbonne Nouvelle, France Panelists:

 Carolina Aguerre, Universidad de San Andrés & Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina

 Hanane Boujemi, DiploFoundation, Malta

 Marianne I. Franklin, Goldsmiths, University of London, United Kingdom

 Stephen D. McDowell, Florida State University, USA

 YJ Park, Syracuse University, USA

 Ashraf Patel, OSISA, South Africa

12:15-12:30 – Closing Session

 Synthesis of Discussions

Dominique Boullier, University Rennes 2 Haute Bretagne & CNRS, France

 Conclusion and Way Forward

12:30 – Cocktail,

sponsored by Sciences Po International Office, Center of the Americas

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Publication of Submitted Contributions

Abstracts submitted in contribution to the workshop and focusing on global Internet governance research questions are all published on the workshop website (http://tinyurl.com/2nww9t).

Authors of these contributions are:

 Carolina Aguerre, Universidad de San Andrés & Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina

 Olivier Arifon, Université Robert Schuman, France

 Leo van Audenhove & Luciano Morganti, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium

 Lamees el Baghdady, Modern Sciences and Arts University, Egypt

 Ralf Bendrath, Technische Universiteit Delft, The Netherlands

 Mariella Berra, University of Torino, Italy

 Hanane Boujemi, DiploFoundation, Malta

 Dominique Boullier, Université Rennes 2 Haute Bretagne & CNRS, France

 Cécile Dolbeau-Bandin, France

 William J. Drake, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Switzerland

 Nelson H. Enano Jr., Technische Universiteit Delft, The Netherlands

 Marianne I. Franklin, University of London, United Kingdom

 Alain Herscovici, Universidade Federal do Espíríto Santo (ES), Brazil

 Matthias C. Kettemann, University of Graz, Austria

 Nanette S. Levinson, American University, USA

 Marcienne Martin, Université de La Réunion, France

 Stephen D. McDowell & Philip E. Steinberg, Florida State University, USA

 Milton L. Mueller & Michel J.G. van Eeten, Technische Universiteit Delft, The Netherlands

 Jose do Nascimento, Université Paris-Sud 11, France

 YJ Park, Syracuse University, USA

 Ashraf Patel, OSISA, South Africa

 Elena Pavan, University of Trento, Italy

 Cheryl B. Preston, Brigham Young University, USA

 Katharine Sarikakis, University of Leeds, United Kingdom

 Rolf H. Weber & Mirina Grosz, University of Zürich, Switzerland

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Workshop Registration Form and Practical Information

Attendance at the workshop is free and open to all interested parties, but registration is required.

The workshop registration form, as well as maps and directions to the workshop location, are available at the workshop website (http://tinyurl.com/2nww9t). Registration form must be filled in and sent back to: Meryem.Marzouki@lip6.fr, preferably before 15 June 2008.

Workshop Organizing Committee

This workshop is organized by the Global Internet Governance Academic Network (GigaNet) in cooperation with the French ICT and Society Academic Network (GDR TICS) and the French Electronic Democracy Academic Network (DEL).

GigaNet Representatives:

 Divina Frau-Meigs, University Paris III Sorbonne Nouvelle, France

 Nanette S. Levinson, American University, USA, GigaNet Chair

 Meryem Marzouki, CNRS & University Pierre et Marie Curie, France, GigaNet Program Committee Chair (Workshop chair)

 Milton M. Mueller, Syracuse University, USA & Technische Universiteit Delft, The Netherlands, GigaNet Vice-chair

 Rolf H. Weber, University of Zürich, Switzerland, GigaNet Treasurer GDR TICS Representative:

 Eric Brousseau, University Paris X Nanterre, France, GDR TICS Co-chair DEL Representative:

 Thierry Vedel, CNRS & Sciences Po, France, DEL Co-chair

Workshop Sponsors

 GDR TIC et Société du CNRS (GDR TICS-CNRS)

 Sciences Po International Office, Centers of the Americas

 University Paris III Sorbonne Nouvelle, Institut du Monde Anglophone

 Computer Sciences Laboratory of Paris 6 (LIP6)

 University Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC)

Global Internet Governance: An Interdisciplinary Research Field in Construction