Transnational Advocacy Networks in the Information Society: Partners or Pawns? (Information Technology and Global Governance)

This book examines the role of transnational advocacy networks in enabling effective participation for individual citizens in the deliberative processes of global governance. Contextualized around the international conference setting of the United Nations-sponsored World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in 2003 and 2005, the book sees epistemic communities and information and communication technologies (ICTs) as critical to the effectiveness of this important organizational form. Historically, governments have dominated the official "conference diplomacy" surrounding these World Summits. However, reflecting the UN General Assembly resolution authorizing WSIS, transnational civil society and private sector organizations were invited to participate as official partners in a multistakeholder dialogue at the summit alongside the more traditional governments and international organizations. This book asks: are transnational advocacy networks active in the global information society influential partners in these global governance processes, or merely symbolic tokens--or pawns? Cogburn explores the factors that enabled some networks--such as the Internet Governance Caucus--to persist and thrive, while others failed, and sees linkages with epistemic communities--such as the Global Internet Governance Academic Network--and ICTs as critical to network effectiveness.-- Provided by publisher This book examines the role of transnational advocacy networks in enabling effective participation for individual citizens in the deliberative processes of global governance. Contextualized around the international conference setting of the United Nations-sponsored World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in 2003 and 2005, the book sees epistemic communities and information and communication technologies (ICTs) as critical to the effectiveness of this important organizational form. Historically, governments have dominated the official zconference diplomacyy surrounding these World Summits. However, reflecting the UN General Assembly resolution authorizing WSIS, transnational civil society and private sector organizations were invited to participate as official partners in a multistakeholder dialogue at the summit alongside the more traditional governments and international organizations. This book asks: are transnational advocacy networks active in the global information society influential partners in these global governance processes, or merely symbolic tokens--or pawns? Cogburn explores the factors that enabled some networks--such as the Internet Governance Caucus--to persist and thrive, while others failed, and sees linkages with epistemic communities--such as the Global Internet Governance Academic Network--and ICTs as critical to network effectiveness Front Matter....Pages i-xxxi Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Multistakeholderism and Contestation in the Global Governance of the Information Society....Pages 3-21 Contending Perspectives on Multistakeholder Global Governance: Theory, Conceptual Framework, Data, and Methods....Pages 23-49 Front Matter....Pages 51-51 From NWICO to Global eCommerce: Telecommunications Restructuring and the GII....Pages 53-92 ISOC, ICANN, and Experiments in Multistakeholder Global Internet Governance....Pages 93-126 Front Matter....Pages 127-127 World Summit on the Information Society: Catalyst for Transnational Advocacy and a Milestone for Multistakeholder Global Governance....Pages 129-175 Global Alliance for ICT and Development: What Went Right, and Wrong?....Pages 177-199 Internet Governance Forum: What Went Right?....Pages 201-216 The Civil Society Internet Governance Caucus as Transnational Advocacy Network....Pages 217-243 Front Matter....Pages 245-245 Relinquishing the Root: Snowden, NETmundial, and the IANA Transition....Pages 247-262 Toward a Model of Transnational Advocacy Networks as Multistakeholder Global Governance: Conclusions and Future Research....Pages 263-279 Back Matter....Pages 281-337