Internet governance is a complex and multidimensional subject, as the range of topics debated in past Internet Governance Forums has demonstrated. Major themes, sometimes complementary and sometimes in opposition, are woven into its fabric.
Depending upon the "lens" which one uses to view the subject, certain aspects of the discussion become important, while others become lower priority issues or even non-issues. Internet governance will be examined
through the following 6 lenses:
- Sovereignty-based intergovernment organization
- Law enforcement
- Professional and technical management
- Freedom of expression and civil liberty
- Commerce and trade
- Economic and social development
The focus of each examination will be to determine what issues are high priority and what issues become low priority or disappear from consideration.
The last lens will be examined in greater detail, asking the question: What are the most important issues to address within Internet governance that will contribute most to economic and social development, and what issues recede in priority and become unimportant. The results of this exercise will then be compared with the priority items as viewed through the other lenses to determine to what extent other views of Internet governance do or do not coincide with what the development highlights.