{"id":8731,"date":"2020-05-13T20:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-05-13T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nkzw.jp\/igf\/2020\/05\/13\/en-philo-seedig-2020-virtual-said-orientalism\/"},"modified":"2020-05-13T20:00:00","modified_gmt":"2020-05-13T11:00:00","slug":"en-philo-seedig-2020-virtual-said-orientalism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nkzw.jp\/igf\/2020\/05\/13\/en-philo-seedig-2020-virtual-said-orientalism\/","title":{"rendered":"Saidian Orientalism on SEEDIG 2020 Virtual \u2014 Orientalism and politics of representation"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Thumbnail\"<\/p>\n

\n

This essay applies the conceptual framework of the Postcolonial Studies<\/strong> \u2014 most prominently associated with Edward Said<\/strong> \u2014 to re-read the SEEDIG 2020 Virtual conference. Target audience: researchers, doctoral students, policy analysts, and executives.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Introduction: The Problem<\/h2>\n

Said exposed how Western representations of "the Orient" functioned as a knowledge-power dispositif. Debates on internet standardization, AI regulation, and data sovereignty often reproduce this dispositif.<\/p>\n

This essay argues that the multistakeholder process of SEEDIG becomes intelligible in its specificity only through the concept of Orientalism and politics of representation<\/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

Digital Orientalism<\/h2>\n

How Online's contributions to SEEDIG resist or respond to West-centric agenda-setting is a key object of postcolonial analysis. COVID-19 discussion is a typical case.<\/p>\n

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

The regional IGF (SEEDIG) holds a philosophically distinct position as the intermediate category mediating global universality and national particularity.<\/p>\n

Self-representation of the Global South<\/h2>\n

Edward Said'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 Edward Said's Orientalism and politics of representation<\/strong>, as a central problematic. In Online'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 "\u9060\u9694\u6559\u80b2"<\/h3>\n

Discussion of "\u9060\u9694\u6559\u80b2" can be positioned, from the perspective of Edward Said's Orientalism and politics of representation<\/strong>, as a derivative problematic. In Online's context, the three layers of regulatory design, social implementation, and citizen participation around \u9060\u9694\u6559\u80b2 are particularly at stake.<\/p>\n

3. Application to "\u5730\u57df\u5354\u8abf"<\/h3>\n

Discussion of "\u5730\u57df\u5354\u8abf" can be positioned, from the perspective of Edward Said's Orientalism and politics of representation<\/strong>, as a peripheral yet important problematic. In Online's context, the three layers of regulatory design, social implementation, and citizen participation around \u5730\u57df\u5354\u8abf are particularly at stake.<\/p>\n

4. Application to "\u8d8a\u5883\u30c7\u30fc\u30bf"<\/h3>\n

Discussion of "\u8d8a\u5883\u30c7\u30fc\u30bf" can be positioned, from the perspective of Edward Said's Orientalism and politics of representation<\/strong>, as a peripheral yet important problematic. In Online's context, the three layers of regulatory design, social implementation, and citizen participation around \u8d8a\u5883\u30c7\u30fc\u30bf are particularly at stake.<\/p>\n

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

Discussion of "\u751f\u6210AI" can be positioned, from the perspective of Edward Said's Orientalism and politics of representation<\/strong>, as a peripheral yet important problematic. In Online'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 Edward Said perspective carries three practical implications for executives operating in Online.<\/p>\n

First, it raises the reflexive question of how the firm's business model connects to the logic of Orientalism and politics of representation<\/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

    \n
  1. Verification of the applicability of Edward Said's framework to other IGF conferences<\/li>\n
  2. Comparative contrast between Postcolonial Studies<\/strong> and other theoretical traditions<\/li>\n
  3. Exploration of dialogue possibilities with the indigenous intellectual traditions of Online<\/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

    \n

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