Columbia International Affairs Online: Working Papers

CIAO DATE: 08/2013

Reimagining the Internet: The Need for a High-level Strategic Vision for Internet Governance

Mark Raymond, Gordon Smith

July 2013

Centre for International Governance Innovation

Abstract

As the Internet has become more important, existing stakeholders have identified new interests; new entrants to the policy space, including a number of emerging market states, are bringing their interests and distinct values to bear. This paper argues that the contemporary politics of Internet governance are best understood as a complex, high-stakes case of rule-making. The key question is how to refine and update Internet governance given a secular increase in state interest, geopolitical rivalry, the existence of legacy institutions and high levels of civil society engagement.