The WEF has always been an Economic Forum, and
its DNA is
imprinted with a top-down view of the world, with participation
lead by the
wealthy and powerful. The WEF lacks neither resources nor economic
issues to
deal with, so one might ask “Why is the WEF talking a lead role in
this
post-NETmundial initiative?” Since it is certainly not out of
need, it is based on opportunity. It is not difficult to draw up a
list of
reasons for WEF interest, ranging from the good to the bad.
However, no matter what one
selects from that list there are two core questions remaining for
civil
society.
The first is what are the benefits and risks of
joining in an
initiative that, in practice, may or may not be open and
inclusive? The second,
of course, is what are the risks, or benefits, of not joining?
Those civil
society groups that join, and are “represented” are at risk if the
process
turns out to be non-inclusive and resistant to bottom up
participation. If the
process is inclusive and open to bottom up participation, it
doesn’t really
matter if a civil society group is formally represented by
designation, or effectively
engaged via participation. I am pleased that the Board of ISOC
decided not to
participate. There are damaging downside risks if the initiative
goes badly,
and if the initiative goes well there is full scope for bottom up
engagement by
all stakeholders.
Lastly, doing right, by being open and
inclusive is not all
that difficult to understand. The initiative does not need civil
society
representation to understand that. The WEF initiative can get it
right by
simply embracing those core values from the start and, in an open
and transparent way, building from there. As a
economist with a long perspective on the WEF I am skeptical of the
ability of
the “WEF leopard” to change its spots, but would be more than
happy if this WEF
led initiative proved me wrong. In either case I would rather
participate as a
member of a stakeholder constituency, without the questionable
label of “stakeholder representative”.
Sam Lanfranco, Chair
NPOC Policy Committee