Part IV Activities of Organizations, Ch.25 Communications and the Internet

Subject(s):

Freedom of association — Freedom of expression — Internet — Humanitarian intervention — International organizations, practice and procedure

This chapter examines the transformative effect of the Internet and the rise of computer technology on international organization of communications. It begins by describing the liberalization of telecommunication services, which provides the essential point of departure for understanding the contemporary situation. It then identifies key international organizations involved in Internet governance. This survey of organizations is heavily biased towards entities that are involved in Internet operations and governance. The next section puts this collection of organizations into motion by describing their power struggles over the control of the Internet. Along the way, the chapter invokes several theories of organization, such as regime theory, principal-agent concepts of delegation, and theories of networked governance derived from transaction cost theory.