Abstract: In December 2008, the Internet Governance Forum
(IGF) has successfully completed its third installment on issues
pertaining to Internet governance. The IGF promotes a multistakeholder
environment, where protagonists engage in an extensive debate to discuss
how the Internet should look in the future; with these discussions in
place issues of cultural diversity and cultural relativism become more
relevant than ever before.
However, culture is normally followed by zeal; zeal to preserve it and
to adhere to its historical significance. This is like a Damocles sword,
since tradition and its relative - custom - can potentially prohibit
progress and pose threats to social structures; more precisely, in
international environments, like the Internet, certain traditions can be
mistakenly considered as more valuable and exhibited thereon as more
'exclusive' than others. This being the case, it is undeniable that
custom not only will play a significant role in the governance of the
Internet, but this role will, in turn, be able to determine the dynamics
within its structure.
This paper discusses the influential role of custom and its effects
within the society of Internet Governance; it then proceeds to discuss
an interpretation of justice, which demonstrates the way custom might be
enforced and imposed upon various subjects. Finally, this paper shows
that these conflicting customs should not necessarily annihilate
multiparticipatory governance structures, rather assist in their
progress.
To read this paper by Dr. Konstantinos Komaitis, originally published
in the International Journal of Communications Law & Policy, in
full, see:
ssrn.com/abstract=1381625
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