Deciphering the Codes of Internet Governance : Understanding the Hard Issues at Stake

This paper analyses and reports on discussions at the international forum held at the University of Oxford, entitled 'Internet Governance for Development: Focusing on the Issues'. It started with an open meeting on 31 August 2006 followed on the next day by a workshop for a specially invited group of knowledgeable and experienced participants, encompassing a broad range of perspectives. They sought to discuss and clarify key Internet governance issues, such as those on the agenda for the first meeting of the United Nation's Internet Governance Forum, held in Athens from 30 October to 2 November 2006. This paper explores underlying values and policy-making dynamics in international Internet government processes, particularly in relation to the needs of developing countries. In addition to the views of participants expressed during the Oxford event, it draws on position papers prepared for it, documents submitted for consideration by the IGF meeting in Athens and other relevant information