{"id":9013,"date":"2019-06-03T20:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-06-03T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nkzw.jp\/igf\/2019\/06\/03\/en-philo-france-igf-2019-butler-performativity\/"},"modified":"2019-06-03T20:00:00","modified_gmt":"2019-06-03T11:00:00","slug":"en-philo-france-igf-2019-butler-performativity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nkzw.jp\/igf\/2019\/06\/03\/en-philo-france-igf-2019-butler-performativity\/","title":{"rendered":"Butlerian Performativity on France IGF 2019 Paris \u2014 Performative constitution of the subject"},"content":{"rendered":"

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This essay applies the conceptual framework of the Queer Theory \/ Feminism<\/strong> \u2014 most prominently associated with Judith Butler<\/strong> \u2014 to re-read the France IGF 2019 Paris conference. Target audience: researchers, doctoral students, policy analysts, and executives.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Introduction: The Problem<\/h2>\n

In Gender Trouble, Butler argues that gender is constituted through reiterated acts. Discussions of gender and vulnerability at France IGF interrogate performative subject constitution in digital space.<\/p>\n

This essay argues that the multistakeholder process of France IGF becomes intelligible in its specificity only through the concept of Performative constitution of the subject<\/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

Gender and the digital subject<\/h2>\n

Pariscall discussed in France's context involves how reiterated acts in digital space can reproduce or disrupt gender.<\/p>\n

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

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

Politics of precarity<\/h2>\n

Judith Butler's concepts are not confined to abstract philosophical discussion; they apply to the concrete agenda items debated at the 2019 conference. We examine that application below.<\/p>\n

1. Application to "Pariscall"<\/h3>\n

Discussion of "Pariscall" can be positioned, from the perspective of Judith Butler's Performative constitution of the subject<\/strong>, as a central problematic. In France's context, the three layers of regulatory design, social implementation, and citizen participation around Pariscall are particularly at stake.<\/p>\n

2. Application to "AI"<\/h3>\n

Discussion of "AI" can be positioned, from the perspective of Judith Butler's Performative constitution of the subject<\/strong>, as a derivative problematic. In France's context, the three layers of regulatory design, social implementation, and citizen participation around AI are particularly at stake.<\/p>\n

3. Application to "\u30d7\u30e9\u30a4\u30d0\u30b7\u30fc"<\/h3>\n

Discussion of "\u30d7\u30e9\u30a4\u30d0\u30b7\u30fc" can be positioned, from the perspective of Judith Butler's Performative constitution of the subject<\/strong>, as a peripheral yet important problematic. In France's context, the three layers of regulatory design, social implementation, and citizen participation around \u30d7\u30e9\u30a4\u30d0\u30b7\u30fc are particularly at stake.<\/p>\n

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

Discussion of "\u56fd\u5185\u6cd5\u6574\u5099" can be positioned, from the perspective of Judith Butler's Performative constitution of the subject<\/strong>, as a peripheral yet important problematic. In France'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

5. 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 Judith Butler's Performative constitution of the subject<\/strong>, as a peripheral yet important problematic. In France'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

\"Philosophical<\/p>\n

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

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

First, it raises the reflexive question of how the firm's business model connects to the logic of Performative constitution of the subject<\/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 Judith Butler's framework to other IGF conferences<\/li>\n
  2. Comparative contrast between Queer Theory \/ Feminism<\/strong> and other theoretical traditions<\/li>\n
  3. Exploration of dialogue possibilities with the indigenous intellectual traditions of France<\/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