Internet Governance in a Time of Global Reordering 

December 17, 2017

The Internet is one of the major manifestations of globalization, yet the current political climate is characterized by a reaction against globalization and a surge of populism and nationalism in many countries. At the same time, assertions of sovereignty in cyberspace are met with warnings about fragmentation. How resilient are Internet governance institutions and practices when trends in international relations and domestic policy shift?

GigaNet is now accepting proposals for papers to be presented at its annual symposium in Geneva. While papers related to the symposium theme are encouraged, authors from any field of study, any methodological or theoretical approach, or working on any aspect of Internet governance are invited to submit their work. Suggested topics:

• Trade agreements and Internet governance
• The role of sovereignty in cyberspace
• The prospects of jurisdictional or technical fragmentation of the Internet
• Multistakeholder governance and the distribution of power in IG institutions
• Governance of the Internet of things (IoT)
• Transborder data flows and U.S.-European negotiations on the new privacy shield agreement
• Algorithmic regulation and intermediary platforms
• The post-transition ICANN; ICANN-related policy issues
• Cybersecurity, cyber conflict among great powers, and Internet governance
• New methods for measuring Internet governance-related phenomena

The 12th Annual Symposium will take place on 17 December 2017 in Geneva, Switzerland as a pre-event of the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF).

Participation in the GigaNet symposium and the UN IGF is free of charge.

GigaNet is an international association of academic researchers founded in 2006 to support multidisciplinary research on Internet governance. Its membership includes researchers from all over the world who are contributing to local, regional and international debates on Internet Governance. GigaNet encourages emerging scholars to submit their work to the conference. More information on GigaNet’s organizational structures and activities can be found on the website at http://www.giga-net.org.

Submission Requirements 
Extended abstracts should consist of 800-1500 words and describe the 1) research question(s), 2) the data used, 3) the methodology and 4) the main findings of the paper. Proposals should be submitted in English. No names or other personally identifiable information should appear on the uploaded files; however, applicants will submit through the Easychair platform which will record their names and contact data.

All documents must be uploaded by 10 June 2017 to: EasyChair

Selection Process 
GigaNet will select abstracts based on double-blind reviews and inform the authors by August 1, 2017. Authors have until August 15 to confirm their attendance, otherwise they will not be put in the program. Final papers must be written and presented in English and need to be handed in by 10 October 2017. Selected authors who do not submit their complete papers by this date will be removed from the program.

Timetable
June 10 Extended abstract submission deadline
August 1 Acceptances notified; requests for confirmation August 15 Confirmation deadline
October 10 Complete papers due
December 17 Symposium

Further details can be found on GigaNet’s website. Queries can be sent to the Program Committee Chair, Dr. Milton Mueller, at: giganet2017@easychair.org