{"id":11187,"date":"2020-06-08T23:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-06-08T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nkzw.jp\/igf\/2020\/06\/08\/en-philo-germany-igf-2020-sen-capability\/"},"modified":"2020-06-08T23:00:00","modified_gmt":"2020-06-08T14:00:00","slug":"en-philo-germany-igf-2020-sen-capability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nkzw.jp\/igf\/2020\/06\/08\/en-philo-germany-igf-2020-sen-capability\/","title":{"rendered":"Sen’s Capability Approach on Germany IGF 2020 Virtual \u2014 Capabilities and functionings"},"content":{"rendered":"

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This essay applies the conceptual framework of the Welfare Economics \/ Development Studies<\/strong> \u2014 most prominently associated with Amartya Sen<\/strong> \u2014 to re-read the Germany IGF 2020 Virtual conference. Target audience: researchers, doctoral students, policy analysts, and executives.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Introduction: The Problem<\/h2>\n

As Sen argues in Development as Freedom, well-being should be measured not by resource possession but by capabilities \u2014 what people are actually able to do and be. Germany IGF is a forum for socially constructing internet-mediated capabilities.<\/p>\n

This essay argues that the multistakeholder process of Germany IGF becomes intelligible in its specificity only through the concept of Capabilities and functionings<\/strong>, and that the concept itself undergoes transformation under the new material of digital space. Describing this mutual transformation is the task of this essay.<\/p>\n

\"Analytical<\/p>\n

Realizing digital capabilities<\/h2>\n

Discussions at Virtual move beyond mere connectivity rates to ask about the achievability of functionings \u2014 education, health, political participation, cultural expression. In Germany's context, expanding the digital capability set represents true development uncaptured by income metrics.<\/p>\n

Each session's agenda-setting can be read as a contemporary restaging of the Amartya Sen-type problematic.<\/p>\n

The national-level IGF (Germany IGF) is an attempt to redefine the modern category of the nation-state in the digital era.<\/p>\n

Development as freedom<\/h2>\n

Amartya Sen's concepts are not confined to abstract philosophical discussion; they apply to the concrete agenda items debated at the 2020 conference. We examine that application below.<\/p>\n

1. Application to "COVID-19"<\/h3>\n

Discussion of "COVID-19" can be positioned, from the perspective of Amartya Sen's Capabilities and functionings<\/strong>, as a central problematic. In Germany's context, the three layers of regulatory design, social implementation, and citizen participation around COVID-19 are particularly at stake.<\/p>\n

2. Application to "\u96fb\u5b50\u653f\u5e9c"<\/h3>\n

Discussion of "\u96fb\u5b50\u653f\u5e9c" can be positioned, from the perspective of Amartya Sen's Capabilities and functionings<\/strong>, as a derivative problematic. In Germany's context, the three layers of regulatory design, social implementation, and citizen participation around \u96fb\u5b50\u653f\u5e9c are particularly at stake.<\/p>\n

3. Application to "\u56fd\u5185\u6cd5\u6574\u5099"<\/h3>\n

Discussion of "\u56fd\u5185\u6cd5\u6574\u5099" can be positioned, from the perspective of Amartya Sen's Capabilities and functionings<\/strong>, as a peripheral yet important problematic. In Germany's context, the three layers of regulatory design, social implementation, and citizen participation around \u56fd\u5185\u6cd5\u6574\u5099 are particularly at stake.<\/p>\n

4. Application to "\u653f\u5e9c\uff0b\u6c11\u9593\u5354\u50cd"<\/h3>\n

Discussion of "\u653f\u5e9c\uff0b\u6c11\u9593\u5354\u50cd" can be positioned, from the perspective of Amartya Sen's Capabilities and functionings<\/strong>, as a peripheral yet important problematic. In Germany's context, the three layers of regulatory design, social implementation, and citizen participation around \u653f\u5e9c\uff0b\u6c11\u9593\u5354\u50cd are particularly at stake.<\/p>\n

5. Application to "\u751f\u6210AI"<\/h3>\n

Discussion of "\u751f\u6210AI" can be positioned, from the perspective of Amartya Sen's Capabilities and functionings<\/strong>, as a peripheral yet important problematic. In Germany's context, the three layers of regulatory design, social implementation, and citizen participation around \u751f\u6210AI are particularly at stake.<\/p>\n

\"Philosophical<\/p>\n

Implications for Executives and Practitioners<\/h2>\n

The philosophical reflection of this essay is not merely academic. The Amartya Sen perspective carries three practical implications for executives operating in Germany.<\/p>\n

First, it raises the reflexive question of how the firm's business model connects to the logic of Capabilities and functionings<\/strong>. Second, in dialogue with regulators and civil society, it suggests dimensions of consensus formation that purely technical arguments cannot reach. Third, it indicates that the long-term ground of business legitimacy lies not so much in technical advantage or market share as in participation in such philosophical-normative debates.<\/p>\n

Academic Positioning and Future Research<\/h2>\n

The argument of this essay attempts to graft a philosophical perspective onto the mainstream political-science and legal approaches to internet governance research. Three future research questions follow.<\/p>\n

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  1. Verification of the applicability of Amartya Sen's framework to other IGF conferences<\/li>\n
  2. Comparative contrast between Welfare Economics \/ Development Studies<\/strong> and other theoretical traditions<\/li>\n
  3. Exploration of dialogue possibilities with the indigenous intellectual traditions of Germany<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    In particular, the third point has the potential to liberate IGF research from West-centric debate and open a more multi-layered discursive space.<\/p>\n

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    Primary Sources<\/strong><\/p>\n