[WSIS CS-Plenary] RE: [governance] OECD Ministerial Meeting, Seoul,
June 17-18 2008
Parminder
parminder at itforchange.net
Tue Sep 25 07:23:36 BST 2007
Thanks for this reply, Milton.
I completely agree with the imperative for engagement, and we will see if IT
for Change can spare bandwidth/ resources to engage as well.
My email was mainly addressed to those in civil society, and in the IGC, who
may not be so enthusiastic about 'evolving broad public policy principles
for the Internet' in a CS-led way within the IGF but willing to engage with
OECD in exactly the same exercise. I know you are not one of those, and have
been active in sharpening the policy discourse at the IGF, as well
participating in an exercise to develop real process and substantive
possibilities for global Internet polices. The very mention of 'framework
convention' and such terms attract such a hostile reaction among many that
we need to interrogate the reasons for this situation, more deeply. I know
that the possibility of authoritative governments dictating global internet
polices is the main fear in the minds of most civil society members and
groups in giving such a reaction to any structured process for global
Internet polices. And this danger being (relatively) less present in OECD
circles probably gives them more confidence. In this matter I have two
principal arguments
(1) Authoritarian governments already know enough, and are increasingly
capable enough, to do what they want to in order to control their national
digital spaces, which is what they most care to control. I don't see what
much more they can get out of international policy agreements, though I know
they are aiming for some benefits, like in cross-border 'security' related
agreements and arrangements. However, when countries sit down for
international negotiations there is always the possibilities that
progressive values - a la existing human rights agreements - even if at
some low common denominator, get agreed to. Even if such outcomes look
difficult at present, it is important to keep some clear global public
policy spaces open and engaged in these directions, for information society
is a fast evolving area, of which no one has very clear understanding,
except for the gut feeling that it is a very very powerful phenomenon
altering our realties in far more structural ways than we can understand at
present.
(2) Authoritarian governments are only one danger, and at the altar of
fighting this danger, we can not sacrifice all considerations regarding the
economic (also social and political) imperialism that some governments in
collaboration with big-business are strengthening through the use of new ICT
infrastructures, and other infra and supra structures build over this
infrastructure, which are the unique resources, and infrastructures, and
'playing-fields' of the information society. And in making our choices which
fights are more important, and if both are important, which mix of response
and what trade-offs are to be made, is an issue of political determination,
in which, sadly, North based civil society and South-based civil society
often takes different positions. It we are really serious about using the
strength and legitimacy of a 'global civil society' in all these policy
arenas, it is important and that we give greater attention and devote more
energy to seeking to evolve common understanding and there from, common
agendas and strategies. And I think it is possible. It is principally with
this objective in mind I wrote the earlier email.
Parminder
________________________________________________
Parminder Jeet Singh
IT for Change, Bangalore
Bridging Development Realities and Technological Possibilities
Tel: (+91-80) 2665 4134, 2653 6890
Fax: (+91-80) 4146 1055
<http://www.itforchange.net/> www.ITforChange.net
_____
From: Milton L Mueller [mailto:mueller at syr.edu]
Sent: Sunday, September 23, 2007 7:57 PM
To: governance at lists.cpsr.org; Parminder; Jeanette Hofmann
Cc: Virtual WSIS CS Plenary Group Space
Subject: [governance] OECD Ministerial Meeting, Seoul, June 17-18 2008
An interesting set of questions, Parminder.
First, let's dispose quickly of the "enhanced cooperation" theme. While I
can't speak for Jeanette, I am pretty confident that when she expressed a
view that nothing will come of it she is speaking in a factual rather than
normative sense. That is, she believes that the governments involved, mainly
US and EU, are either unable or unwilling to move forward with the promised
cooperation, and thus has no expectations for it. In this, I
(disappointedly) concur.
Second, it seems to me that your first paragraph, which states that "polices
made by OECD often become de facto global polices, and one can't miss the
opportunity to engage with these process" answers many of the questions in
the later paragraphs.
Third, you characterize OECD as an exclusive, closed club of rich(er)
nations, which it more or less is (it would like to add China, India and
Brazil as members, I suspect). But in this case OECD seems to be exploring
ways to engage with and open up to civil society. Since civil society is not
bound by national territories this is a chance for the type of participants
to be broadened significantly.
The more important point here is that powerful governments are very good at
Forum-shopping (a lot of the trouble with enhanced coop in the IGF is due to
that). If our voices are not present in that critical Forum and a consensus
around certain principles or ideas forms there, it could undermine work in
other arenas.
You ask a question about why OECD doesn't try to formulate principles via
IGF rather than on its own. I guess you are smart enough to know most of the
answer, so this must be a rhetorical question. OECD like all organizations
has its own needs for self-promotion, growth, importance and financial
sustainability. Its very existence is predicated on the value that a
smaller, more homogeneous and focused "club" has for its members, and on
exercising leadership. If OECD will not completely come to the Forum the
Forum will have to come to it, as the old saying about Mohammed goes. It
would seem to me that participation in OECD by civil society would construct
a bridge between those two worlds and is indeed the only way to proceed.
There are of course serious questions about how much resources CS groups
should devote to these things, which are especially salient for low-budget
orgs like ours.
_____
From: Parminder [mailto:parminder at itforchange.net]
Dear Jeanette,
> The OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation
> and Development) is currently preparing its 10th
> Ministerial Meeting on "The Future of the
> Internet Economy", which will take place in
> Seoul, South Korea, June 17-18 2008.
> ....
> A second message will soon follow, outlining
> these opportunities in more detail, include some
> of our preliminary thinking about priorities for
> civil society engagement with this process, why
> we think you should get involved and how you can get involved.
>
> We look forward to working with you on this!
My response to this is at two levels. At one level, I understand that it is
important to engage with such important issues at all levels. IT for Change
will like to make use of all opportunities to influence any policy that, by
legitimacy, or by default, can affect possibilities and processes of
development. And polices made by OECD often become de facto global polices,
and one can't miss the opportunity to engage with these process, with
whatever effectiveness. So count us in for any combined CS effort in this
matter.
At another level, I will like to engage in a discussion about why would you
be ready to engage with an exclusive closed group of rich nations meeting
'to formulate guiding principles and policies for the future development of
the Internet economy' and be not so enthusiastic about a more legitimate
process of 'enhanced cooperation' which is supposed to include all countries
and has some chance of CS involvement we well. (Jeanette, if I am not wrong
I have heard you say that you have no enthusiasm or expectations from the
enhanced cooperation process.) And what about a civil society led process on
framing such broad principles for the internet, as we are trying to do
through the dynamic coalition of 'framework of principles for the Internet'
(of which IGP is partner, I invite your greater personal engagement with it
as well, and also invite others to become members) . Recently civil society
led the process of framing a disability rights convention, why don't we
follow their lead, or at least try to present some basis for developing
broad principles which can then be used by a more representative process.
> The OECD Ministerial Meeting offers a broad
> international public space to discuss the
> economic and societal implications of the
> emerging information economy. Civil society
> groups active in the area of information society
> related issues should use this opportunity to
> network among themselves and collectively express
> their visions on guiding policy principles for
> the development of the Future of the Internet economy.
Why don't 'Civil society groups active in the area of information society
related issues' first express our vision of such 'guiding principles' for
the development of the Internet at a more representative and
multistakeholder UN forum of IGF rather than at the OECD. This can be done
through this dynamic coalition on 'framework of principles for the
Internet'- and this is an open invitation to everyone to join/work with the
'dynamic coalition on framework of principles for the Internet'.
I quote the WGIG report building the justification for the IGF
"Existing institutions that address some of these Internet-related public
policy issues, such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD), are not generally global in their membership and
therefore developing countries lack a forum for discussing Internet-related
public policy issues. "
> Opportunities for Civil Society Engagement
> ==================================
> The next message will contain more detailed
> information about opportunities for Civil Society
> participation in the 10th Ministerial process including:
>
> o Linking work in other public policy processes
> (such as the World Summit on the Information
> Society and The Internet Governance Forum) with the OECD Ministerial
> meeting.
We will very much like to link the work in the IGF done by the dynamic
coalition of 'framework of principles for the Internet' to the OECD
processes.
I must repeat that I am for engagement with the OECD, and ready to associate
with the process. The other issues I have raised here came to my mind as
they seem connected to the basic objective and processes of CS engagements
with global internet policy processes to influence them towards
'progressive' directions.
The first question I will like to pose at the OECD meeting of course is that
why are they - the OECD - not engaging in developing global Internet polices
and policy principles at the more legitimate global forums like the IGF and
the enhanced cooperation process, and why should the rest of the world just
have to get co-opted into global polices made by the OECD which become de
facto applicable to all by the sheer economic and political muscle of the
OECD countries and the mega-businesses of these countries.
Parminder
________________________________________________
Parminder Jeet Singh
IT for Change, Bangalore
Bridging Development Realities and Technological Possibilities
Tel: (+91-80) 2665 4134, 2653 6890
Fax: (+91-80) 4146 1055
www.ITforChange.net
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jeanette Hofmann [mailto:jeanette at wzb.eu]
> Sent: Wednesday, August 22, 2007 12:39 AM
> To: WSIS Internet Governance Caucus
> Subject: [governance] Civil Society Participation in OECD Ministerial
> Meeting, Seoul, June 17-18 2008
>
>
>
> Greetings,
>
> The OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation
> and Development) is currently preparing its 10th
> Ministerial Meeting on "The Future of the
> Internet Economy", which will take place in
> Seoul, South Korea, June 17-18 2008.
>
> APC and the Internet Governance Project, together
> with the 'Public Voice', is working with the OECD
> secretariat to increase participation of Civil
> Society groups in shaping the agenda of the
> Ministerial meeting and in organising a one day
> stakeholder pre-event on June 16th 2008.
>
> This message contains general background
> information about the OECD and the 10th
> Ministerial meeting, and some of the
> opportunities for civil society participation.
>
> A second message will soon follow, outlining
> these opportunities in more detail, include some
> of our preliminary thinking about priorities for
> civil society engagement with this process, why
> we think you should get involved and how you can get involved.
>
> We look forward to working with you on this!
>
> Jeanette Hofmann, Karen Banks, Milton Mueller
>
> About The Event
> =============
> The OECD, an inter-governmental organisation that
> consists of 30 member Countries, will hold a
> Ministerial Meeting on "The Future of the
> Internet Economy" in Seoul, Korea, on 17-18 June
> 2008. www.oecd.org/futureinternet.
>
> The OECD Ministerial Meeting aims to formulate
> guiding principles and policies for the future
> development of the Internet economy. Recognizing
> that the world depends to a growing degree on the
> Internet, the goal is to help governments
> establish policies responding to new developments
> and concerns arising from the changing role of
> the Internet in our society and economy.
>
> The Ministerial meeting will be preceded by a day
> of "stakeholder fora" on June 16 2008, to give an
> opportunity to civil society and the business
> sector to present their viewpoints on the future
> development of the Internet economy. More
> information on the Ministerial and Stakeholder fora are available online.
>
> The OECD Ministerial Meeting offers a broad
> international public space to discuss the
> economic and societal implications of the
> emerging information economy. Civil society
> groups active in the area of information society
> related issues should use this opportunity to
> network among themselves and collectively express
> their visions on guiding policy principles for
> the development of the Future of the Internet economy.
>
> About The OECD
> =============
> Membership in the OECD includes the majority of
> European countries, Canada, the United States,
> Mexico, New Zealand, Australia, Turkey, Japan and
> Korea. The OECD headquarters (the secretariat) is based in Paris.
>
> The OECD provides a setting where governments can
> compare policy experiences, seek answers to
> common problems, identify good practice and work
> to co-ordinate domestic and international
> policies. The OECD engages in policy analysis,
> data gathering, monitoring, and forecasting in
> many different areas but in particular for
> economic, environmental and social issues. In the
> fields of digital economy and information
> society, the OECD covers many areas that are of
> interest to civil society, such as privacy law
> enforcement, user-created content, network
> neutrality and gender in ICT employment. Reports
> of the OECD Committee of Information, Computer
> and Communications Policy can be found at (www.oecd.org/sti/ict)
>
> The OECD has relationships with about 70
> non-member countries and a number of
> non-governmental entities such as the Business
> and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC) and the
> Trade Union Advisory Committee (TUAC). There is
> as yet no formal link to civil society
> organisations, but the OECD is currently
> considering its relationship to the
> non-governmental sector with a view to greater inclusion.
>
>
> Public Consultation - open until September 14th 2007
> =========================================
> The OECD Online Public Consultation provides an
> opportunity for all stakeholders to comment on
> the topics and issues to be discussed at the
> OECD's Ministerial meeting on the Future of the
> Internet Economy. The online consultation is open
> until September 14th and can be found here:
>
> http://www.oecd.org/document/9/0,3343,en_21571361_38415463_38985417_1_1_1_
> 1,00.html
>
> Please contact us if you have difficulty
> accessing or completing the online version.
>
> Opportunities for Civil Society Engagement
> ==================================
> The next message will contain more detailed
> information about opportunities for Civil Society
> participation in the 10th Ministerial process including:
>
> o Linking work in other public policy processes
> (such as the World Summit on the Information
> Society and The Internet Governance Forum) with the OECD Ministerial
> meeting
>
> o Gathering Civil society statements and reports
> that deal with future development of the internet
>
> o Preparation of a Civil Society Declaration
>
> o Preparation for a one day civil society stakeholder event on June
> 16th2008
>
> o Information about preparatory events in the run up to the meeting
>
> o A time-line of the process and important dates
>
> References
> =========
> o The Public Voice has a resource site with
> links to useful background documents, a calendar
> of related events and a schedule for the Public
> Voice monthly
> calls:http://www.thepublicvoice.org/events/oecdministerial.html
>
> o About the OECD:
> http://www.oecd.org/pages/0,3417,en_36734052_36734103_1_1_1_1_1,00.html
>
> o About the 10th Ministerial Meeting: www.oecd.org/futureinternet
>
> o The OECD Public Online Consultation:
> http://www.oecd.org/document/9/0,3343,en_21571361_38415463_38985417_1_1_1_
> 1,00.html
>
> o The OECD Organising Committee: www.oecd.org/sti/ict
>
> ____________________________________________________________
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