[Air-L] Special Issue Call for Papers: Shaping the Future of the Information Society: WSIS+20 and Beyond

[Nadia Tjahja]

Dear all,

Apologies for cross-posting.

Policy & Internet has launched a special issue call for papers on the topic of “Shaping the Future of the Information Society: WSIS+20 and Beyond”, edited by Prof. Dr. Jonathon Hutchinson (University of Sydney) and Nadia Tjahja (United Nations University-CRIS and Free University of Brussels).

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

Kind regards,


Nadia Tjahja, PhD

Vrije Universiteit Brussel | Brussels School of Governance | Adjunct Professor & Postdoctoral Researcher

https://brussels-school.be/research/digitalisation-democracy-and-innovation



United Nations University – CRIS | Co-Coordinator of the Digital Governance Cluster

www.cris.unu.edu<http://www.cris.unu.edu/>

YOUthDIG Coordinator, European Dialogue on Internet Governance (EuroDIG)<https://www.eurodig.org/>

European Regional Editor, Policy & Internet Journal (P&I<https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/19442866>)