NEW: Consult the Summary Report from the 2022 Internet Governance Forum.
The book An Introduction to Internet Governance was selected as the Book of the Month for December 2017 by the United Nations Library in Geneva. Learn more.
Read this page in Spanish | French.
Although Internet governance deals with the core of the digital world, governance cannot be handled with the digital-binary logic of the true or false, or good or bad. Instead, the subject demands many subtleties and shades of meaning and perception, requiring an analogue approach, covering a continuum of options and compromises. The aim of the book An Introduction to Internet Governance, by Dr Jovan Kurbalija, is to provide a comprehensive overview of the main issues and actors in the field through a practical framework for analysis, discussion, and resolution of significant issues. Written in a clear and accessible way, supplemented with figures and illustrations, it focuses on the technical, security, legal, economic, development, sociocultural, and human rights aspects of Internet governance.
The text and approaches presented in the book have been used by DiploFoundation and many universities as a basis from training courses and capacity development programmes on Internet governance.
- Download your copy of the 7th edition
- Visit the Internet Governance blog
- Visit the Internet Governance Acronyms Glossary page
- Visit the GIP Digital Watch observatory for Internet governance and digital policy
Translations
The seventh edition of An Introduction to Internet Governance has been translated to Spanish, Russian, Chinese and Turkish. The sixth edition is available in French and Thai, and fourth in Serbian/BCS, French, Armenian and Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia). Translated versions of an earlier version of the book, titled Internet governance: Issues, Actors and Divides, are available in French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Chinese, and Portuguese.
Turkish translation
(7th edition)
Chinese translation
(7th edition)
Russian translation
(7th edition)
Spanish translation
(7th edition)
Portuguese translation
(6th edition)
French translation
(6th edition)
Thai translation
(6th edition)
Armenian translation
(4th edition)
Indonesian translation
(4th edition)
Serbian translation
(4th edition)
Russian translation
(3rd edition)
Arabic translation
(1st edition)
Chinese translation
(1st edition)
French translation
(1st edition)
Portugese translation
(1st edition)
Russian translation
(1st edition)
Spanish translation
(1st edition)
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The briefing paper discusses various predictions for the internet in 2018, focusing on key trends and developments that will shape the digital landscape. Key areas include the rising importance of cybersecurity, the impact of artificial intelligence on online platforms, growing concerns over data privacy, increased regulation of tech giants, and the potential for blockchain technology to revolutionize various industries. These trends are expected to drive significant changes in how we use and interact with the internet in the coming year.
Internet Governance Acronym Glossary
The 2019 edition of the Internet governance Acronym Glossary, compiled by DiploFoundation, contains explanations of over 150 acronyms, initialisms, and abbreviations used in IG parlance. In addition to the complete term, most entries include a concise explanation and a link for further information.
Australian aid: Promoting prosperity, reducing poverty, enhancing stability
The text is about Australian aid focusing on promoting prosperity, reducing poverty, and enhancing stability.
Special Ministerial Event on Food Security and Sustainble Development in Small Island Developing States
A summary of the Special Ministerial Event on Food Security and Sustainable Development in Small Island Developing States.
Inclusive Internet Governance
In this paper, Derrick Cogburn outlines a vision for multistakeholder democratic participation in global information and communication policy processes. Drawing on international regime theory, Cogburn suggests that the UN World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is an explicit attempt to formulate the principles, norms, and values of an emergent international regime to govern the information society in general, and the Internet specifically.
Digital Markets Act
The Digital Markets Act (DMA) aims to ensure the proper functioning of the EU internal market by 'promoting effective competition in digital markets' and, in particular, a fair and contestable online platform environment.
The Internet and diplomats of the 20th century
The Internet and diplomats of the twenty century: how new information technologies affect the ordinary work of diplomats.
Cybersecurity in the Republic of Fiji
This paper discusses cybersecurity in Fiji and offers recommendations to challenges such as the vulnerability of systems due to lack of a cybersecurity framework. The poorly framed laws and lack of appropriate policies.
The multistakeholder model in Internet policy-making: A case study of Paraguay
Internet Governance was a vague topic in Latin America and especially in Paraguay. Only after Snowden´s revelations of mass surveillance, the topic becomes familiar.
Tunis Agenda for the Information Society
The Tunis Agenda for the Information Society highlights the need to bridge the digital divide, prioritize the development of ICT infrastructure in developing countries, promote internet governance principles, and ensure a people-centered, inclusive, and development-oriented information society. It emphasizes the importance of multilateralism, capacity building, and creating an enabling environment for sustainable ICT development. The document serves as a roadmap for advancing the global information society and ha...
ICANN and internet governance: sorting through the debris of ‘self-regulation’
This message explores the challenges and complexities of internet governance, highlighting the need to navigate the aftermath of relying on 'self-regulation' within ICANN.
Internet governance and service provision in Zimbabwe
From an Internet governance perspective, multilingualism and security have been two of the cornerstone themes since its inception. The security theme addresses topics regarding the Domain Names System (DNS), Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), Internet attacks, security awareness, and policies and legal measures to ensure a safe and secure Internet experience. Security is a very diverse area where multiple topics should be tackled, and ignoring one or more topics while securing other areas would still jeopardise the safety of Internet users.
New threats: the cyber-dimension
The text discusses emerging cyber threats and the need for increased cybersecurity measures to address these new challenges.
Improving the practice of cyber diplomacy: Training, tools, and other resources – Final study
This study analyses the capacity development of cyber diplomacy, including training opportunities, tools, and other resources, and looks at their reach, take-up, and what should come next. Why? Because although cyber diplomacy, the conduct of diplomacy with respect to a state’s interests in cyberspace, is too important to ignore, the participation of countries is far from ideal.
Cybersecurity competence building trends
Report on cybersecurity competence building trends in OECD countries.
Common African Position on the Post-2015 Development Agenda
The participatory approach that led to the elaboration of the Common African Position (CAP) on the post-2015 Development Agenda involving stakeholders at the national, regional and continental levels among the public and private sectors, parliamentarians, civil society organizations (CSOs), including women and youth associations, and academia. This approach has helped address the consultation gap in the initial preparation and formulation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The World Bank’s Contribution to Poverty Reduction in Peru
Peru’s economy has improved significantly, however poverty is an imperative issue that is not progressing as expected.
Cloud computing: Opportunities and issues for developing countries
This paper looks at how cloud computing will surpass the Internet in adoption and usage as this technology’s users are on the other side of the digital divide. It looks at the diffusion of mobile phones and devices in developing countries and its continuous dramatic rise and at some popular mobile applications that are helping development efforts, such as m-Banking, m-Education, m-Health, m-Agriculture, and others that already exist and are popular within developing countries.
Stakeholderism in African Internet Governance: the Case of the .africa gTLD
In 2012, ICANN announced plans to delegate over 1000 new generic top level domain names, one of which was the long awaited .africa.
Policy and regulatory challenges to deploying blockchain technologies
Abstract: Blockchain technologies are heralded by some as one of the most promising innovations after the Internet. The concept’s origins are linked to Bitcoin, a paperless cryptocurrency, and the first decentralized digital currency that works without a central bank or single administrator.
Promoting e-Commerce in developing countries
This study examines the advantages and possibilities for the use of digital signatures to carry out electronic transactions. It focuses on developing and transition countries that have not fully implemented the use of digital signatures in their economic, commercial and productive processes. An important aim of this research is to create awareness on the likely effects for enforcing the use of digital signatures to carry out e-commerce transactions on the economies of developing and transition countries. The study also proposes key issues to be considered for policy-makers in countries in orde...
The Rise of TechPlomacy in the Bay area
Tech diplomacy is becoming a necessity for countries worldwide. Countries need to capture the nexus between technology innovation and economic developments. To be effectively present in the Bay Area, countries need to use innovative diplomatic approaches. This report discusses how tech diplomacy can be developed, and more specifically, how countries approach the Bay Area tech industry.
Developing new ways to govern the Internet
'Even if I am participating in the process during the whole year and interacting with many people, meeting them face-to-face at an event like the IGF remains essential... it is the most effective way to network...' - Rafik Dammak from Tunisia
A study of the UN Working Group on IG – MSP in communication technology for development at the global level
The paper aims to identify best practices and lessons learned in multi-stakeholder partnership (MSP) practices at the global policy level through a participatory methodology based on interviews and an online electronic survey.
Report of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts on Sustainable Development Financing
Report of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts on Sustainable Development Financing.
Emerging Leaders for the Digital World
Emerging leaders, whose stories feature in this publication, are among 501 participants from 60 ACP countries who participated in the Capacity Development programme in ICT Policy and Internet Governance for Africa Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) 2010/2011.
Report: The geopolitics of digital standards: China’s role in standard-setting organisations
Standards for digital technologies are all around us, enabling devices to interact with each other, allowing us to connect to mobile networks, and facilitating the exchange of information. By providing rules or guidelines for the development and functioning of technologies, products, and services, standards foster interoperability and enable safety and quality of service. This report provides an overview of the digital standardisation ecosystem and explores China’s role within this ecosystem.
Net neutrality in Europe
The European Union upholds net neutrality, ensuring that all internet traffic is treated equally, without discrimination or interference from internet service providers. This regulation protects consumers' rights to access online content freely and without limitations set by providers.
Sustainable Capacity Building: Internet Governance in Africa – An Action Plan
Enhancing sustainable capacity building on internet governance (IG) would have positive consequences within and beyond the African context. Considering the importance of the issues that fall under the framework of IG – ranging from providing access to infrastructure to promoting cybersecurity and fostering emerging technologies – it is possible to conclude that strengthening IG capacity building could ultimately contribute to developing the capacities required for implementing the Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa (2020-2030) (African Union, 2020a) and the Agenda 2063 (AU Commi...
Global Public Goods: International Cooperation in the 21st Century
This collection of papers offers a new rationale and framework for international development cooperation. Its main argument is that in actual practice development cooperation has already moved beyond aid. In the name of aid (i.e., assistance to poor countries), we are today dealing with issues such as the ozone hole, global climate change, HIV, drug trafficking, and financial volatility. All of these issues are not really poverty related. Rather, they concern global housekeeping: ensuring an adequate provision of global public goods. Many important lessons could be drawn by first recognizing t...
Crossing the Executive Digital Divide
Information and communications technologies (ICT) have become critical in business, government, manufacturing, critical infrastructures, academia, and, literally, everywhere else, and yet, despite the large sums of money involved, ICT remains the least well understood function in an organization.
From a Safer Internet to a Better Internet for Kids
The text is about transitioning from a safer internet to a better internet for kids.
Developing ICT for youth and people in rural settings
'There is a huge need for online learning infrastructure at the national level in my country and I am sure it is the same in other small island developing states... I encourage governments to have their public servants, in particular youth to study Internet governance...' - Fuatai Purcell from Samoa
The Hypocrisy Threatening the Future of the Internet
The message highlights the threat of hypocrisy to the future of the internet, raising concerns about the negative impact of inconsistent actions and standards on the digital landscape.
Reforms to the International Financial Architecture | Our Common Agenda Policy Brief 6
The international financial architecture is outdated and failing humanity. From egregious borrowing costs for developing countries to underinvestment in global crises like climate change and pandemics, the system is rife with inefficiencies and biases. It's a tale of two worlds, with a growing gap between the haves and have-nots, not just in wealth but in access to a secure future. The clock is ticking on ambitious reforms to make the world's financial architecture fit for the 21st century.
The network neutrality debate and development
This study focuses ont he Net Neutrality controversy. It aims to answer a number of questions including - If Net Neutrality deserves protection, the question is how? Should a political or legal solution be enacted at national or international levels? Can we trust an informal free-market solution that may develop on its own, or should legal and political means be used to enunciate this principle? Will market forces ensure the best outcome, whatever this may be?
The use of ICT in human rights promotion: A case study of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
The paper seeks to render a critical analysis that will lead and co-ordinate a programme of promotional work across the region, including the integration of ICT strategies in its promotional work.
For an effective taxation of electronic commerce in Madagascar
This research paper focuses on the taxation of electronic commerce (or e-commerce) in Madagascar. The objectives of this project are to offer insight and help the fiscal administration for future governmental programmes focusing on the taxation of e-commerce in Madagascar.
Broadening the diplomatic bandwidth
‘I believe whistle-blowing websites have a greater role to play in the future of the humankind. These are a few of the issues that I became aware of through DiploFoundation, on whose blogosphere these issues continue to be debated.’ - Felix Samakande from Zimbabwe
Global Cross-Border Privacy Rules Declaration
The text discusses the need for trusted cross-border data flows to support economic growth and innovation. It introduces the establishment of a Global Forum to promote interoperability in data protection and privacy, aiming to enhance international cooperation and standards. The Forum is set to encourage the use of global systems, share best practices, and engage various stakeholders. Participation is open to jurisdictions accepting the Forum's principles, with decisions made by consensus. Regular meetings will determine activities and implementation, with the possibility of additional gatheri...
Reframing Internet Governance Discourse: Fifteen Baseline Propositions
The text presents fifteen baseline propositions aimed at reframing discourse on internet governance, providing a foundational framework for understanding and addressing the complexities of governing the internet effectively.
Developing awareness of IG issues
‘While employers and tertiary institutions have been providing Internet access to their employees for the last 10–12 years, the majority of Fijians have only been able to afford Internet access at home within the last five or six years...’ - Sam Goundar from Fiji
Introducción a la Gobernanza de Internet
Aunque la gobernanza de Internet trata de los fundamentos del mundo digital, la gobernanza no puede manejarse con la lógica digital binaria de lo verdadero o lo falso, lo bueno o lo malo. En cambio, el sujeto exige muchas sutilezas y sombras de significado y percepción, requiriendo un enfoque analógico, cubriendo un continuo de opciones y compromisos. El objetivo del libro Introducción a la Gobernanza de Internet, del Dr Jovan Kurbalija, es proporcionar una visión general de los principales temas y actores en el campo a través de un marco práctico para el análisis, discusión, y resolu...
Launching an ICT campus and beyond
'I found that living in a developed economy is quite different from living in my developing country environment. Things like the Internet are taken for granted...In sub-saharan Africa, lack of the same (Internet) resources would automatically discourage me...' - John Walubengo from Kenya
NETmundial Multistakeholder Statement
The NETmundial Multistakeholder Statement emphasizes the importance of a collaborative approach between stakeholders in addressing Internet governance issues. It highlights principles such as human rights, open standards, and transparent processes as key foundations for managing the Internet. The statement calls for shared responsibility, inclusivity, and diversity in decision-making processes to ensure a free, open, and secure cyberspace for all.
The Vulnerability of the Small Island Developing States of the Caribbean
The Small Island Developing States of the Caribbean are highly vulnerable to external economic and environmental shocks due to their small size and limited resources, which threaten their sustainability and development.
Measuring the Information Society Report 2015
The Measuring the Information Society Report 2015 provides insights into trends related to information and communication technologies globally.
Data Diplomacy: Mapping the Field
The adoption of open data policies and the standardization of data collection were among the recommendations made during DiploFoundation's Data Diplomacy Roundtable: Mapping the Field, a brainstorming event that took place on 5 April 2017 – on the role of (big) data in international affairs and diplomacy.
Global Inviolability of the Internet Root Zone (Briefing Paper #1)
Dr Kurbalija explains the internet root zone, and highlights the context and controversy of questions about its inviolability. Possible solutions identified by him include legal elements (customary law, diplomatic law, common heritage of mankind), 'software' inviolability, and 'hardware' inviolability.
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)
Written just before WSIS 2005, Petru Dumitriu takes us through an accounted journey of the WSIS process from 2003 in Geneva to the preparatory stages of the Tunis Summit in 2005. In this chapter Dumitriu also put forward suggestions for a post-multistakeholder summit where all stakeholders could use their creativity and resources to consolidate what has been established and to develop new forms of dialogue and partnership among themselves.
Pricing the right to education: The cost of reaching new targets by 2030
This paper shows there is an annual nancing gap of US$39 billion over 2015-2030 for reaching universal pre-primary, primary and secondary education of good quality in low and lower middle income countries.
The waning of the state and the waxing of cyberworld
This paper discusses whether IT is functioning mainly as an instrument of states in their quest for power and wealth or is principally operating as a transformative agent by market forces and various sectors of civil society.
Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems: Mapping the GGE Debate (Briefing Paper #8)
The paper discusses the ongoing debate in the Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS) and the varying perspectives on the need for regulation and control of these weapons.
Statement on the Common Heritage of Mankind to the Internet’s critical infrastructure by Dr Alex Sceberras Trigona, Malta
Dr. Alex Sceberras Trigona raises questions about whether the Internet should be considered part of the Common Heritage of Mankind, emphasizing the need for international recognition and protection to ensure its proper management and safeguarding for current and future generations.
Local hubs and the work of the RPWG
'It was also very important for me to join other members of the RPWG to be physically present at the IGF, so we could follow the implementation of the RP mechanism, working in partnership with the Secretariat... and providing assistance to the hubs.' - Marilia Maciel from Brazil
The Milennium Development Goals Report 2015
The Millennium Development Goals Report 2015 reflects on the progress made towards achieving the eight goals set by world leaders in 2000. It highlights significant accomplishments in areas such as poverty reduction, child mortality, and access to clean water. However, challenges remain, including disparities among regions and persistent inequalities. The report emphasizes the need for continued efforts to address these issues and accelerate progress towards sustainable development.
Re-imagining the future
‘There is so much work still to be done. There are so many unraveling threads. There is so much still to create. There is much need to better use the Internet for development.’ - Sheba Mohammid from Trinidad and Tobago
