Participation, Coordination, Agreement...Action? Evaluating the Multistakeholder Model in Internet Governance

Abstract

Multistakeholderism has emerged as a potential mechanism to address the interconnected complexity that defines many of today’s most pressing policy challenges. The goal of this thesis is to better understand the relationship between effectiveness and legitimacy in the nascent multistakeholder model, taking internet governance, a frequently cited example of multistakeholderism, as a case study. Applying four criteria elaborated from central theories that have influenced the development of multistakeholderism, this thesis evaluates several internet organizations based on participation, coordination, agreement, and action, with a focus on key differences between technical and political multistakeholder processes. Based on this analysis, the thesis concludes with recommendations for improving the legitimacy and effectiveness of multistakeholder policy-development initiatives related to internet governance as well as other fields.

Keywords: internet governance, multistakeholderism, transnational governance, stakeholder theory, multi-stakeholder, polyarchy, public sphere, deliberative democracy, internet standards, cyberspace

JEL Classification: L86, L38, K33, M14