In Search of the Holy Grail: A Principled Approach to Multistakeholder Governance in Internet Policy-Making

Abstract

In this paper, we briefly define the notion of ‘multistakeholder governance’ and describe its evolution and criticism through the prism of global Internet policy-making. First, we provide a definition and background, illustrating the different forms this concept has taken in three fora for participation in global Internet policy-making (UN, ITU and WTO). Second, we highlight the tension of the currently multiform notion of multistakeholder governance with core democratic values, and provide practical suggestions as to how these values can be brought to bear within existing multistakeholder practices.

Keywords: GigaNet