[ALAC] At-Large: Part of the Private Sector? Part of Civil Society?

[Alan Greenberg]

These two questions seem to be coming up regularly. The current draft 
proposal of the CCWG-Accountability refers to ICANN being leg by the 
"Private Sector (as opposed to the Public Sector - Governments), and 
includes us in the Civil society part of the private sector.

Looking at definitions can be useful. There are many of both terms.

The most common definition of the Private Sector says it is 
everything that is not funded or controlled by government. Many 
definitions even explicitly list individuals as part of it. That 
certainly includes us.

Some definitions talk about three groups, the public sector, the 
private sector (referring to for-profit organizations) and the 
"Voluntary Sector". The latter certainly includes the formal parts of 
At-Large, but really leaves individuals, who are no longer part of 
ANY of the sectors.

 From my perspective, that means that if we are part of the "Private 
Sector", we better be explicitly listed as such.

I would appreciate hearing how these terms are defined in other 
languages and cultures.


The Wikipedia defines Civil Society as "aggregate of non-governmental 
organizations and institutions that manifest interests and will of 
citizens." Civil society includes the family and the private sphere, 
referred to as the "third sector" of society, distinct from 
government and business.

The World Bank has a more detailed definition: the term civil society 
to refer to the wide array of non-governmental and not-for-profit 
organizations that have a presence in public life, expressing the 
interests and values of their members or others, based on ethical, 
cultural, political, scientific, religious or philanthropic 
considerations. Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) therefore refer to 
a wide of array of organizations: community groups, non-governmental 
organizations (NGOs), labor unions, indigenous groups, charitable 
organizations, faith-based organizations, professional associations, 
and foundations".

In both definitions, Civil Society is listed as essentially being 
defines as groups of one form or another. By those definitions, 
At-large and our components parts are certainly civil society, but 
the individuals whose interests we defend are not part of civil society per se.


Thoughts?

Alan






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