[WSIS CS-Plenary] Civil Society and the Multi-Stakeholderism

[Parminder]

Hi All,

Ralph's article is balanced and a good overview. However, the issue of the
relationship of civil society with other players - governments and the
private sector - has to seen in the context of countries of the South as
well - and here the situation is very different from that discussed in the
article about the players in the North.  

And within the South, conditions differ greatly - there are countries whose
governments may actually be illegitimate in the eyes of the civil society
(though there are various kinds of CS in these countries) and other
countries, like India, whose government may have positive position on many
issues at the WSIS, but is basically just insensitive to any role of the
civil society in developing country positions........ and there are other
countries in the South who have very aggressive pro-development positions
and also closer relations with the civil society. And between southern govs
and the CS there are often agreements on development issues, and
disagreements on rights-based issues (both of which are equally important
issues). 

There are many more nuances in CS- gov relationships in these countries. And
so are in CS-private sector relationships - which I wouldn’t go into here. 
 
So I agree with Wolfgang's conceptualisation on how CS may work on the issue
of relating with other sectors. CS gets its legitimacy from nothing else but
what it stands for, but also, as importantly, from what it achieves (big or
small).  So instead of developing grand hold-all theories and conceptions of
what CS is, and what governments are, and (I hesitantly add) what the
private sector is...... CS needs to achieve gains for the constituencies it
represents by working strategically and tactically, as Wolfgang says

»» by having your strategic aims in mind and not giving away "basic
interests" »»

And Ralph put it

»» confident in civil society's own strength and its role of the world's
public conscious.»»

Though, regular introspection and self-analysis of CS role etc is certainly
very important. It is an assertion of the plurality of the CS....... but
then, the self-analysis must reflect the plurality.

Regards to all

Parminder   

______________________________________
Parminder Jeet Singh
IT for Change, Bangalore
Bridging Development Realities and Technological Possibilities
www.ITforChange.net
Ph: 91 80 2665 4134
Mobile: 91 98 4594 9445
 
-----Original Message-----
From: plenary-admin at wsis-cs.org [mailto:plenary-admin at wsis-cs.org] On Behalf
Of Wolfgang Kleinwächter
Sent: 30 March 2005 13:05
To: plenary at wsis-cs.org
Subject: AW: [WSIS CS-Plenary] Civil Society and the
Multi-Stakeholderism[Scanned]

Dear Ralph,
 
good piece. It helps to clarify some points and, most of all, in helps to
structure the debate on its way forward. It is a journey into new territory
and we have to be innovative by finding out, what works and what not. Such a
discussion is needed, in particular if you think beyond Tunis 2005. 
 
Probably the old "policy development chain" from the introduction into the
theory of international relations by Karl Deutsch can be helpful. Start with
the identification of your constituency and define their basic needs.
Translate the basic needs into interests and try to formulate political aims
on the basis of these interests. If you have defined aims, develop a
political  strategy how to reach them. Analyse the broader picture, that is
the interests and aims of other partners/competitors/ counterparts and the
"balance of power". Look where you have conflicts and whether you have
common interests. Brake your strategy down into "tactical steps" according
to a realistic analysis of the concrete situation (and a self critical
analysis of your own strentgth and weaknesses and the potential you have)
and try to find fields for compromises where common interests exists around
individual issues by having your strategic aims in mind and not giving away
"basic interests". It cases of conflicts, confrontation will not disappear,
but from a dialectical point of view you have always elements of
confrontation and cooperation involved and should not fear to work together
with your competitor it is does not undermined your own identity and harm
your long term objectivs.  
 
Attached is the draft of an article I have written for a book publication,
but it is still work in progress. Feel free to link it to your website. 
 
Best
 
wolfgang
  
 
 

________________________________

Von: plenary-admin at wsis-cs.org im Auftrag von Ralf Bendrath
Gesendet: Mi 30.03.2005 05:55
An: wsis-cs-plenary
Betreff: [WSIS CS-Plenary] Civil Society and the
Multi-Stakeholderism[Scanned]



Hi all,

following up on the recent discussions about our take on
multi-stakeholderism (ranging from the CS press release, the CS-PS
statement, and the stocktaking database to the Global Alliance
discussions), I have just published a lenghty piece on
multi-stakeholderism in the WSIS context at www.worldsummit2005.org.

I have tried to give a rough summary of the points raised and also relate
it to larger developments and possible roads ahead.

Have fun!

Best, Ralf


Civil Society and the Multi-Stakeholderism
Discussion emerging about opportunities and strange bedfellows

29 March 2005. Civil Society involved in WSIS has finally started to
discuss the strategic and political implications of multi-stakeholder
processes like the World Summit on the Information Society. Besides the
usual "we have to be involved if we have the chance", there is a lot of
scepticism, but not yet a full understanding of how to use these new
structures in global governance. More...

http://www.worldsummit2005.org/
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