Policy & Internet Journal
Deadline: November 2, 2025
Policy & Internet Journal 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):
https://internet-policy-meco.sydney.edu.au/2025/09/specialissuewsis20/
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 and multistakeholderism
* 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@sydney.edu.au] and Nadia Tjahja [nadia.tjahja@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,
Jonathon (on behalf of Nadia Tjahja).