Hi GIG-ARTs http://gig-arts.eu <http://gig-arts.eu/> is a network of European-based Internet governance scholars that’s holding its second annual conference in Cardiff in April. We’d love to get some good paper proposal related to the themes outlined below. Deadline for abstracts is 8 January. Please share with any potentially interested colleagues etc. In this context, I'd love to get a cluster of good paper proposals on digital trade so that we can constitute a panel and ultimately a section of the planned conference book. If anyone finds this an appealing possibility please be in touch with me. Thanks Bill

GIG-ARTS 2018 - The Second European Multidisciplinary Conference on Global Internet Governance Actors, Regulations, Transactions and Strategies

26-27 April 2018, Cardiff

Overcoming Inequalities in Internet Governance: framing digital policy capacity building strategies

Organised by: Centre for Internet and Global Politics / School of Law and Politics / Cardiff University

In partnership with: DiploFoundation, The ECPR Standing Group on Internet and Politics, The Global Internet Governance Academic Network (GigaNet)

Deadline 08.January.2018

Abstract

After having explored “Global Internet Governance as a Diplomacy Issue” at its first edition held in Paris in 2007, the Second European Multidisciplinary Conference on Global Internet Governance Actors, Regulations, Transactions and Strategies (GIG-ARTS 2018) addresses power inequalities in internet governance, and digital policy capacity building strategies aiming at overcoming gaps in digital policy developments.

Connectivity infrastructure is constantly expanding, while internet access is incessantly growing across countries, regions and socio-political contexts. In this context, new and crucial questions emerge from a governance and security perspective. As for the latter, new connectivity calls for cybersecurity capacity building strategies aiming at secure digital infrastructure. At the same time, from a governance perspective, traditional powers in the governance of the internet are increasingly challenged from newly connected actors who demand more influence in the transnational debate around digital policy development. As a result, despite claims for equal representations and diversity since the first World Summit on Information Society in 2003, the narrowing of the digital divide opens new and key questions: Whether and what inequalities exist in internet governance decision making? How is the rapidly changing internet geography and sociography reflected in the governance of the internet? Moreover, in order to increase awareness and enhance involvement of newly connected countries in national and transnational digital policy developments, what are the best internet governance capacity building strategies available? How do newly connected countries and actors build their digital policy capacity, and do they develop an active role in the transnational internet governance debate? Whether in newly or early connected countries, various kinds of divides persist across socio-cultural and political contexts, reflecting if not extending societal and socio-economic inequalities. Are such renewed forms of inequalities and discriminations adequately addressed in internet governance debates? What are the requirements for digital policies to actually empower people and uphold their individual and collective rights online?

In order to answer these crucial and manifold questions, the conference will bring together an outstanding network of experts working on internet governance, digital inequalities, and cybersecurity capacity building. The conference welcomes theoretically relevant, empirically grounded research, and/or policy oriented contributions, addressing internet governance inequalities, digital policy making, and cybersecurity capacity building. In particular, submissions could address either of the following topics (list non exhaustive):

Inequalities in the governance of the internet Governance strategies among new and emerging actors Geopolitical coalitions among actors (e.g. BRICS) Multistakeholder models and their efficacy Cybersecurity capacity building Digital divides Telecom Reforms Online discriminations Violent content and harassment online “Fake news” and other kinds of manipulations Individual and collective empowerment Human rights online Digital Trade

Program Chair Andrea Calderaro Centre for Internet and Global Politics, University of Cardiff, United Kingdom

Program Committee William J. Drake, University of Zurich, Switzerland Marianne Franklin, Goldsmiths University Katharina Höne, DiploFoundation, Malta & Switzerland Nanette S. Levinson, American University Washington DC, USA Robin Mansell, London School of Economics and Political Science, United Kingdom Meryem Marzouki, CNRS & Sorbonne Université, France Ben Wagner, UW Vienna, Austria

Full Call for Paper Please find more information via the conference website: events.gig-arts.eu <http://events.gig-arts.eu/>

Submission Information and Publication Opportunities Authors are invited to submit their abstracts (no longer than 500 words) via Easychair at: https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=gigarts2018 <https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=gigarts2018>

Authors of selected submissions will have the opportunity to submit their full manuscript for publication as part of an edited volume.

Venue The conference will be held in Wales's capital city, Cardiff, at the Centre for Internet and Global Politics, hosted at the Cardiff University's School of Law and Politics.

Conference Registration and Fees Registration fees are 100€ for regular participants and 50€ for students showing proof of status. The conference fees include a participant kit with conference documents as well as coffee breaks and meals.

GIG-ARTS 2018 Communication Details - Website: events.gig-arts.eu <http://events.gig-arts.eu/> | www.cigp.eu <http://www.cigp.eu/> - Email for information: events@gig-arts.eu <mailto:events@gig-arts.eu> | Andrea Calderaro (CalderaroA@Cardiff.ac.uk <mailto:CalderaroA@Cardiff.ac.uk>) - Submissions: https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=gigarts2018 <https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=gigarts2018> - Twitter: @GigArtsEU - Mailing list for updates: http://tinyurl.com/yc7rvxm4 <http://tinyurl.com/yc7rvxm4>

*********************************************** William J. Drake International Fellow & Lecturer Media Change & Innovation Division, IPMZ University of Zurich, Switzerland william.drake@uzh.ch <mailto:william.drake@uzh.ch> (direct), wjdrake@gmail.com <mailto:wjdrake@gmail.com> (lists), www.williamdrake.org <http://www.williamdrake.org/> ************************************************