Oxford Union Debate: The Internet and Democratisation
'This House believes that the Internet is the greatest force for democratisation in the World'
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Introduction: The public debate is opened by Alex Campbell (Union member) who makes the motion and introduces the speakers. Andrew Goldman (Union Member) opposes.
Proposition: Ron Deibert (University of Toronto) A prominent political and media academic, Ron Deibert has collaborated with John Palfrey on the OpenNet Initiative, which looks at Internet censorship. Deibert has also written numerous articles on Internet Politics and Global Politics and is a leading authority on the Internet.
Opposition: John Palfrey (Harvard Law School) The Executive Director of the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School, John Palfrey has vast experience of the interactions between the Internet and international law. He has organised collaborations between numerous universities on an international level that study how governments restrict the Internet.
Proposition: Chairman Bo Aung Din (Burma PDP) Chairman of the Central Committee of the Parliamentary Democracy Party of Burma, Bo Aung Din is committed to restoring democracy to Burma: despite fierce opposition from the military regime in Rangoon.
Opposition: Robert Amsterdam (Mikhail Khodorkovsky's Lawyer) With over twenty five years experience working as a business and human rights lawyer, Robert Amsterdam has been described as 'one of the few lawyers in the world good at taking on the state when the state starts acting like a criminal'.
Proposition: Jimmy Wales (Wikipedia) Jimmy is the founder of Wikipedia and the Wikimedia Foundation, which spearheads the community-led creation and distribution of free content worldwide.
Opposition & Result: Jonathan Zittrain (Oxford Internet Institute) Jonathan is Professor of Internet Governance and Regulation at Oxford Internet Institute, and a world expert in the new field of Internet legal issues, such as digital property rights.
Further Information:
Speakers:
The Speakers: Speaking in favour of the Internet's force for democratisation were Jimmy Wales (Wikipedia), Chairman Bo Aung Din (Burma PDP) and Ron Deibert (University of Toronto), and speaking in opposition, Jonathan Zittrain (OII) Robert Amsterdam (Mikhail Khodorkovsky's Lawyer) and John Palfrey (Berkman Center).
Description:
Well...apparently it isn't!
At an Oxford Union Debate on 18 May, the motion 'This House believes that the Internet is the greatest force for democratisation in the World' was narrowly defeated.
Final result: 'Ayes' = 90, 'Noes' = 108. So...apparently the Internet isn't the greatest force for democratisation in the world...
Blog: Tobias Escher (OII DPhil) blogged a blow-by-blow account of the debate.
The Oxford Union is the world's most prestigious debating society, with an unparalleled reputation for bringing international guests and speakers to Oxford. It has been established for 182 years, aiming to promote debate and discussion not just in Oxford University, but across the globe. This event was organised by the Oxford Internet Institute in partnership with the OpenNet Initiative Conference.