Global Internet Governance:
Research and Public Policy Challenges for the Next Decade
May 5 and 6, 2011
American University, School of International Service, Washington, DC
Fifth Regional Workshop of the
Global Internet Governance Academic Network (GigaNet)
<http://giga-net.org/>http://giga-net.org/
Internet Governance is an emerging international field of
scholarship, public interest advocacy, diplomacy, governmental and
corporate policy-making, and philanthropic investment. The problem
of how or whether we should control or regulate a communication
medium that is decentralized and global is critically important to
anyone who relies on the Internet to communicate, mobilize political
action, run online businesses, purchase products and services or
access critical information services.
GigaNet is a scholarly community initiated in spring 2006 in
conjunction with the UN Internet Governance Forum. Its four
principal objectives are to: (1) support the establishment of a
global network of scholars specializing in Internet governance
issues; (2) promote the development of Internet governance as a
recognized, interdisciplinary field of study, (3) advance
theoretical and applied research on Internet governance, broadly
defined: and; (4) facilitate informed dialogue on policy issues and
related matters between scholars and Internet governance
stakeholders (governments, international organizations, the private
sector, and civil society).
Building on the success of its first four regional workshops in
Paris, France (2008), Brussels, Belgium (2009), Seoul, So. Korea
(2009) and Montreal, Canada (2010), the purpose of the Washington,
DC regional GigaNet workshop is twofold:
May 5. The first day is dedicated to outreach sessions exploring
issues in global Internet governance among policy makers, academics
and civil society at large. The goal of the sessions on this day is
to facilitate informed dialogue on policy issues and related matters
between scholars and Internet governance stakeholders (governments,
international organizations, the private sector, civil society, and
funders). Issues being considered include but are not limited to
governance of critical Internet resources, surveillance and privacy,
Wikileaks, copyright protection laws such as the "Combating Online
Infringement and Counterfeits Act" (COICA), network transparency and
net neutrality. Presenters in these sessions will be invited by the
program committee. To propose speakers or ideas, contact any member
of the Program Committee listed below.
May 6. The second day features presentations of scholarly research
based on a rigorous peer reviewed selection process. The goal of the
second day is to support scholarship and advance theoretical and
applied research on Internet governance. Scholars are invited to
submit 2-page abstracts describing recently completed research or
work in progress on any aspect of Internet Governance. In order to
provide a survey of current academic activities in the field, share
ideas and forge possible collaborations, presentations will focus on
problematics, research designs, preliminary empirical results and
conclusions in the aim of stimulating reflection and discussion
amongst the audience. Any theme or topic relevant to global Internet
governance is welcome.
Deadline for abstract submissions is February 14, 2011. Submissions
can be made through the Easy Chair web site:
<https://www.easychair.org/conferences/?conf=giganetdc2011>https://www.easychair.org/conferences/?conf=giganetdc2011
Decisions will be made by March 15, 2011
Manuscripts expected by April 18, 2011.
Program Committee members include:
- Derrick Cogburn, American University and Syracuse University, Chair
- Milton Mueller, Syracuse University, Vice-chair
- Leo van Audenhove, Free University of Brussels
- Laura DeNardis, Yale University
- Nanette Levinson, American University
- J.P. Singh, Georgetown University