[Air-L] CFP – Shaping the Future of the Information Society: WSIS+20 and Beyond

[Joly MacFie]

(Fwd FYI)

*P&I Special Issue Call for Papers – Shaping the Future of the Information
Society: WSIS+20 and Beyond*
https://internet-policy-meco.sydney.edu.au/2025/09/specialissuewsis20/

At the ITU Plenipotentiary conference in 1998, a proposal was made with the
question: what if the world united to shape the future of the Information
Society? This question sparked a global journey towards digital
cooperation. Endorsed by UN General Assembly Resolution 56/183, the World
Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) became a cornerstone of global
multistakeholder dialogue. Developing its Declaration of Principles, the
WSIS Action Lines and the creation of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF),
WSIS laid the groundwork for an ongoing ecosystem of
meetings and initiatives. Over the past 20 years, a remarkable set of
achievements have shaped the world. Grassroots efforts have helped build
Community Networks. Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) have dramatically
improved speeds and reduced costs. We have a multilingual Internet through
domain names which use non-Latin scripts, the establishment of
national and regional forums have empowered local voices to contribute in
discussions on digital policies, among many others. These achievements
underscore that the Internet’s resilience and openness is a result of
sustained and coordinated efforts across borders, sectors and actors.

As we prepare for WSIS+20 in 2025, the United Nations General Assembly will
reflect on our progress, assess current gaps and engage a broad range of
stakeholders to shape the future of Internet governance in a rapidly
transforming digital era.

Therefore we invite papers that explore:

*Governance Modalities and Stakeholder Dynamics*
We welcome papers that critically examine the evolving architecture
of Internet governance, key questions include:

   - *Modes of Governance and Participation: *Analyses of
   the WSIS+20 Review process, including its modalities, elements and drafts.
   - *Stakeholder Inclusion and Participation Models:* Reviewing how the
   Global Digital Compact (GDC) and WSIS have approached multistakeholderism,
   inclusion and diversity in its processes.
   - *Meta-participation in Digital Governance: *Exploring second-order
   stakeholder engagement – where stakeholders not only participate in
   processes, but actively shape the process itself
   - *Norm Development and Frameworks:* Studies on the
   alignment and adoption of the SDGs, Sao Paulo Principles, the GDC
   Frameworks and ROAM-X as normative anchors.
   - *Multilateralism and Multistakeholderism:* Reviewing the interplay
   between multilateralism andmultistakeholderism
   - *Global and regional multistakeholderism*: Evaluating tensions,
   synergies and practical implications in decision-making

*Institutional Futures in Internet Governance*
We invite contributions that address the evolution and future of key
institutions shaping Internet governance:

   - *Preserving and Evolving the IGF:* The future of multistakeholder
   governance through the IGF and its potentially renewed mandate
   - *Developing Institutional Architectures:* Reevaluating the changing
   role of different offices such as the UN Tech Envoy’s
   office/ODET, and proposals for new bodies for future governance.
   - *Evolving institutions:* Reflecting on ICANN’s role in the evolving
   governance ecosystems and its place in future frameworks.
   - *Governing Artificial Intelligence:* Proposals for new spaces or
   mechanisms to coordinate global AI governance across stakeholders.

*User-centric Perspectives in Internet Governance:
Exploring Internet use and its socioeconomic consequences*
We invite contributions that are user-centric and/or address topics related
to the WSIS Action Lines:

   - Digital Inclusion and Equity
   - User rights
   - Behavioural and psychological impacts
   - Economic and labour transformations
   - Education
   - Cultural and language diversity
   - Data sovereignty
   - Topics related to the WSIS Action Lines

*Submission Guidelines:*

Please send through your title and 300 word abstract to Jonathon Hutchinson
[jonathon.hutchinson at sydney.edu.au] and Nadia Tjahja [nadia.tjahja at vub.be]
with the subject line: “Policy & Internet Special Issue” by 2 November 2025.

   - Abstracts: up to 300 words
   - Abstract deadline: 2 November
   - Full papers: 6000-8000 words
   - Full paper Deadline: 1 March 2026


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Joly MacFie  +12185659365
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