The WSIS Decade and the Public–Private Partnership Thirst

Abstract

The governance of the Internet faced a reflexive turn throughout the WSIS decade (2005–15), explored in this chapter. Concerns for authority, legitimacy, and accountability—expressed by different stakeholders—became central to the evolution of the field. A number of challenges, stemming from three diverse sources, were embedded therein. First, questions were spawn by the modus operandi of the sui generis institutions, such as the international technical bodies exercising public governance functions to ensure the continuous functioning of the Internet. Second, demands resulted from the gradual adaptation of intergovernmental organizations with core or tangential interests in the field. Third, the role of private intermediaries was called into question as their financial and political power rose steeply. Their relation to governments was also probed, particularly after the 2013 Snowden leaks.