What Is Internet Governance and Where Does It Come from?

In: Journal of public policy, Band 25, Heft 1, S. 29-50

Abstract

The literature on governing the Internet suffers from such lacunae as overly narrow, technocratic conceptions of Internet governance; insufficient attention to governance dynamics within countries; & limited appreciation for the micro-level political & social roots of governance. This essay suggests ways they may be addressed by asking two foundational questions "What is Internet governance and where does it come from"? "Governance" is defined as a syndrome of norms & rules controlling property rights, market structures, equity assumptions & authoritative definitions about which social actors are permitted to participate in governance processes & which are excluded. ICT governance originates in conflict & cooperation among contending elites who negotiate across four distinct societal sectors -- government, the private sector, research & development, & civil society. This distinctive pattern of four-way negotiations is termed the "Quad", a concept that helps explain the origins of governance, & points toward theories linking the structure of the Quad with the performance of the Internet cross-nationally. The concept of the Quad contributes both to scholarly understanding of Internet governance & to improved performance by practitioners charged with real-world governance responsibilities. 2 Figures, 41 References. Adapted from the source document.