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/

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

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