Internet Governance

Lead Instructor: Dr. William Drake, Director of International Studies at Columbia University’s Institute for Tele-Information and veteran of ICANN, IGF and WEF

Course Structure: Offered online, from 8AM to 11AM EST Nov 21, 22, 30 and Dec 1, 5, 6

Global Internet governance concerns the international and transnational institutions that guide the operation and use of the Internet. Over the past 25 years, how the Internet should be governed has been the focus of substantial global debate and has given rise to new forms of cooperation among governments, corporations, the Internet technical community, and civil society. This course surveys the historical evolution and contemporary dynamics of that cooperation, and draws on both the scholarly and policy practitioner discussions and the lecturer's experience in Internet governance processes. Throughout the course we will interweave two levels of analysis: overviews of the institutions, interests, and dynamics involved in the various governance issue-areas; and attention to the concerns and roles of governments and stakeholders from the developing countries.  ­­

The course is organized as follows.  After introductions, Day One lays the conceptual foundations by considering the meaning and forms of global Internet governance and presenting an overview of the Internet’s ecosystem of technical institutions and issues.  Day Two explores the global debate initiated by the World Summit on the Information Society concerning multistakeholder vs. multilateral governance and the resulting birth and dynamics of the UN’s Internet Governance Forum (IGF).  Throughout the following week, the IGF holds its annual meeting in Addis Ababa and course members are very strongly encouraged to register and remotely participate in at least a session or two so that we can discuss their “hands-on” experiences and views on this multistakeholder process.

Day Three begins with an open class dialogue on the IGF model, after which we assess the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers’ (ICANN) crucial transition to independence from US government oversight.  This will be followed by a consideration of the role of governments in the IGF and ICANN, and a prominent senior representative of the Argentine government will join us for this conversation.  Day Four turns to the Internet governance-related processes underway in multilateral bodies and surveys the key activities and dynamics in UN agencies and other international organizations; there will be a prominent guest participant for this session as well.  Day Five considers emerging trends and challenges associate with the rising importance of data and new technologies in the transition to a global digital economy, and then explores the interplay and governance implications of Internet openness and Internet fragmentation.  Finally, Day Six looks to future prospects by assessing the UN’s new Global Digital Cooperation agenda, as well as the options for inclusive Internet development and a hybrid institutional architecture that balances diverse global interests. 

• This course is intended for people working in the public policymaking and advocacy arenas who wish to understand and even participate in global Internet governance processes. 
• Upon completing the course, participants will have a deeper practical understanding of the complex issues, actors and dynamics associated with multistakeholder, multilateral, and hybrid institutions for global Internet governance and digital cooperation.
• No prior knowledge is required.  Every participant will bring their own unique expertise and experience to the discussion.