CIGI Launches Internet Governance Paper Series with Call for High-Level Strategic Vision Consistent with Democratic Values and Human Rights

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The first report in a new research paper series by The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) looks at the complex and highly decentralized world of Internet governance and calls for a high-level strategy consistent with democratic values and human rights.

Waterloo, Canada (PRWEB) August 08, 2013

The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) has issued the first report in a new research paper series that addresses the political and technical challenges surrounding the future of Internet governance.

"Reimagining the Internet: The Need for a High-level Strategic Vision for Internet Governance," by CIGI Research Fellow Mark Raymond and Distinguished Fellow Gordon Smith, looks at the complex and highly decentralized world of Internet governance and calls for a high-level strategy consistent with democratic values and human rights.

The new report is part one of CIGI’s Internet Governance Papers series, which feature commentary by leading experts on pressing issues and the political implications of the most likely Internet governance scenarios in the 2015-2020 timeframe.

“The desire to extend state control over Internet governance is widely shared, even by advanced industrial economies,” say Raymond and Smith. “There are, however, significant differences among states with respect to their preferences over the substantive content of such change.” The authors point out that the recent World Conference on International Telecommunications held in Dubai highlights the “complex fault lines in the international community” with regard to the future of Internet governance.

Raymond and Smith outline the institutions, coalitions and power politics at play in Internet governance, as well as the role of civil society groups and corporate interests pursuing their own agendas. “Network operators, Internet service companies, equipment manufacturers, intellectual property holders, insurers and others all have significant stakes in Internet governance outcomes.”

“Capitalizing on these various opportunities to update and refine global governance of the Internet will require skillful, coordinat

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