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<p>Dear colleagues,<br /><br />We hope this message finds you well. We are glad to announce that <strong>The Ninth GIG-ARTS Conference will be held at the University of Salerno on 26-27 May 2025.<br /></strong><br /><br />Please find hereafter and attached the CFP for the GIG-ARTS 2025 Conference. Feel free to disseminate this call. Submissions are already open, we are looking forward to receiving your abstracts describing your latest research work and we very much hope to see you in Salerno!<br /><br />Best regards,<br />GIG-ARTS 2025 Organizing Committee<br />=====</p>
<p><strong>9</strong><strong>th</strong><strong> GIG-ARTS Conference | </strong><strong>26-27 May 2025 Salerno</strong></p>
<p><strong>The Rise of Digital Sovereignty: Ambiguities and Challenges</strong></p>
<p><strong style="font-size: 10pt;">Deadline for abstract submissions: 31 January 2025</strong></p>
<p><br /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The European Multidisciplinary Conference on Global Internet Governance Actors, Regulations, Transactions and Strategies (GIG-ARTS) gathers scholars and practitioners in an annual conference to debate the latest research on governing the global internet. Each conference highlights a main theme while also welcoming contributions on other aspects of global internet governance.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Earlier GIG-ARTS meetings have addressed themes such as “Global Internet Governance as a Diplomacy Issue” (Paris, 2017), “Overcoming Inequalities in Internet Governance” (Cardiff, 2018), “Europe as a Global Player in Internet Governance” (Salerno, 2019), “Online Information Governance” (Vienna, 2021), “Global Internet Governance and International Human Rights” (Nicosia, 2022), and “The Governance of Cybersecurity: Resilience, Human Rights and Democracy” (Padua, 2023), “Thirty Years of Multistakeholderism in Internet Governance: Assessments and Prospects” (The Hague 2024).</span></p>
<p><br /><strong>GIG-ARTS 2025</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Ninth GIG-ARTS Conference, to be held at the University of Salerno on 26-27 May 2025, takes as its main theme “The Rise of Digital Sovereignty: Ambiguities and Challenges.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The concept of digital sovereignty has gained increasing attention and importance in recent years, driven by a complex array of political and economic motivations, geopolitical tensions, and technological developments. The idea of state sovereignty, once largely limited to territorial boundaries, is now being reimagined and redefined within the context of the digital age. National governments and non-state actors alike are struggling with the need to exert control over data, digital infrastructures, and technological ecosystems, while simultaneously navigating the challenges posed by the global nature of the internet and the influence of digital corporations.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The increasing centrality of digital infrastructure in economic development, national security, and societal well-being has led many governments to reassess their role in regulating and controlling digital networks. This reassessment has been especially prominent in the face of growing reliance on foreign technology providers, concerns over data privacy, and disruptions of global supply chains. Nations like China, Russia, and the European Union have developed policies aimed at asserting their digital sovereignty, each motivated by distinct yet interrelated factors, including national security, economic protectionism, and the safeguarding of fundamental rights. Digital sovereignty is thus positioned as both a response to external vulnerabilities and an assertion of strategic autonomy in an increasingly digital world. Also in the United States of America, the traditional model of internet governance based on private sector leadership, business self-regulation, and global economic competition has been called into question by recent policy initiatives, such as the Huawei ban, restrictions on Chinese apps, the CLOUD Act, and the Chips and Science Act.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Furthermore, many digital sovereignty conceptualizations go beyond a state-centric framework. One prominent perspective focuses on digital sovereignty from a grassroots point of view, which emphasizes the capacity of local communities, indigenous groups, civil society, and individuals to control their digital futures. These perspectives advocate for decentralized and community-driven approaches to digital governance, challenging both state and corporate dominance. Additionally, there are emerging discussions around corporate digital sovereignty as the tech giants' ability to become autonomous in their productive cycle (managing their own cables, data servers, storage farms etc.), or more broadly their ability to operate across borders, shaping global digital ecosystems and influencing governance decisions in ways that rival or even surpass state authorities. Finally, there are interpretations of digital sovereignty in terms of the sovereignty of cyberspace in itself, meant as self-governance by native digital institutions representing the so-called Internet Community. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The pursuit of digital sovereignty generates significant tensions, particularly between the desire for national control and the need for international and multistakeholder cooperation, and despite its growing prominence, digital sovereignty remains a deeply contested concept. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As a result, digital sovereignty is marked by several ambiguities and contradictions, which reflect the complexity of regulating the digital world. One prominent contradiction lies in the interplay between national autonomy and the extraterritorial projection of power. While governments seek to assert control over their digital landscapes, they also engage in actions that extend their influence beyond national borders, such as imposing data localization rules that have far-reaching implications for international businesses, or enacting digital policies that affect global internet governance. Additionally, digital sovereignty presents a paradox between constitutionalism and authoritarianism. On the one hand, some countries advocate for digital sovereignty as a necessary condition to constitutionalize the digital realm, ensuring that fundamental rights such as privacy and freedom of expression are upheld. On the other hand, the same concept can be used to justify authoritarian practices, such as state censorship, surveillance, and the restriction of access to information.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This conference aims to foster a critical dialogue on the rise of digital sovereignty, addressing its motivations, ambiguities, and contradictions. We invite papers that provide both theoretical insights and empirical analyses, drawing from a wide range of disciplines, including political science, law, economics, communication, science and technology studies. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in discussions that explore the future of digital sovereignty and its role in shaping the global digital order.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Therefore, the Ninth GIG-ARTS Conference especially welcomes papers that address the sorts of questions listed below. We aim to compile a selection of contributions in a journal special issue and/or an edited volume.</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Defining digital sovereignty: Conceptual frameworks and theories</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Comparative perspectives on digital sovereignty</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The economy of digital sovereignty: Protectionism vs. global digital integration</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The geopolitics of digital sovereignty</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Digital sovereignty and digital constitutionalism</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Digital sovereignty and national security</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Motivations and implications of data localization, network territorialization, and platform regulation</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Digital sovereignty and digital colonialism, authoritarianism, and imperialism</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The role of international organizations (WTO, ITU, etc.) in digital sovereignty</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tech standardization and sovereignty: Competing global norms</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Global digital supply chains and strategic autonomy</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cybersecurity, weaponization, and digital sovereignty</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Digital sovereignty and emerging technologies</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Digital sovereignty and environmental issues</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Digital sovereignty and Internet fragmentation</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As always, alongside the main theme, the GIG-ARTS conference also welcomes papers on other aspects of internet governance.</span></p>
<p><strong><br />Submission information</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Authors are invited to submit their extended abstracts (no longer than 500 words), describing their research question(s), theoretical framework, approach and methodology, expected findings or empirical outcome. Submitted abstracts will be evaluated through a peer-review process. Abstracts and authors’ information should be submitted through </span><a href="https://conftool2025.gig-arts.eu/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">https://conftool2025.gig-arts.eu/</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p>
<p><strong>Key dates</strong></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Deadline for abstract submissions: 31 January 2025</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Notification to authors: 1 April 2025</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Deadline for author registration (at least one author must register for a selected presentation to appear on the programme): 14 April 2025</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Programme publication: 20 April 2025</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Registration deadline: 15 May 2025</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Conference dates: 26-27 May 2025</span></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Co-Sponsors</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Internet & Communication Policy Center (ICPC) </span><a href="https://www.internetpolicyresearch.eu/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">https://www.internetpolicyresearch.eu/</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Salerno Winter School on Internet Governance (SWING) </span><a href="https://www.internetpolicyresearch.eu/swing-2025"><span style="font-weight: 400;">https://www.internetpolicyresearch.eu/swing-2025</span></a></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Digital Constitutionalism Network (DCN) </span><a href="https://digitalconstitutionalism.org/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">https://digitalconstitutionalism.org</span></a></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Italian Ministry of University and Research</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Grant PRIN 2022KTTSBC - CUP Master D53D23007300006<br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Digital Sovereignty in Comparative Perspective: State Authority, Corporate Power and Fundamental Rights in Cyberspace</span></p>
<p><strong><br />Programme Committee</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Carolina Aguerre, Berna Akcali Gur, Francesco Amoretti, Luca Belli, Dennis Broeders, Stanislav Budnitsky, Andrea Calderaro, Olga Cavalli, Eduardo Celeste, Jean-Marie Chenou, Laura DeNardis, Dmitry Epstein, Marianne Franklin, Iginio Gagliardone, Orsolya Gulyas, Blayne Haggart, Sophie Hoogenboom, Min Jiang, Rikke Frank Joergensen, Hortense Jongen, Matthias C.Kettemann, Nanette Levinson, Robin Mansell, Meryem Marzouki, Francesca Musiani, Ricardo Nanni, Claudia Padovani, Clément Perarnaud, Julia Pohle, Dennis Redeker, Michele Rioux, Jamal Shahin, Mauro Santaniello, Katharine Sarikakis, Yves Schemeil, Jan Aart Scholte, Niels ten Oever, Nadia Tjahja, Natasha Tusikov.</span></p>
<p><br /></p>
<p><strong>Organizing Committee</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Chairs: Francesco Amoretti, Nicola Palladino, Mauro Santaniello</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Local Team: Carlos Andrés Fonseca Diaz, Nascia Tatiana Fera, Armando Antonio Ferrara, Gerardo Ferrentino, Serena Fraiese, Chiara Spiniello, Grace X. Yang.<br /><br /></span></p>
<p><strong>Venue</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">GIG-ARTS 2025 will be held at the University of Salerno, Campus of Fisciano.<br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></p>
<p><strong>Conference Registration and Fees</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Registration fees for the Ninth GIG-ARTS Conference are 120€ for regular participants and 60€ for students showing proof of status. Conference fees (non-refundable) cover a participant kit as well as coffee breaks, lunches, and reception. Registration deadline is 15 May 2025.</span></p>
<p><strong><br />Communication Channels</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">- Website: </span><a href="http://www.gig-arts.eu"><span style="font-weight: 400;">www.gig-arts.eu</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">- Email for information: events@gig-arts.eu</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">- Submissions: </span><a href="https://conftool2025.gig-arts.eu/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">https://conftool2025.gig-arts.eu/</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">- X/Twitter: @GigArtsEU - Hashtag: #GIGARTS25</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">- Mailing list for updates: </span><a href="https://gig-arts.eu/mailman/listinfo/mailinglist_gig-arts.eu"><span style="font-weight: 400;">https://gig-arts.eu/mailman/listinfo/mailinglist_gig-arts.eu</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p>
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