Re: [hrpc] Politics, representation, and the charter (was Re: HRPC recharter)

[Niels ten Oever <[e-mail]>]

Hi Eliot,

On 18-04-2023 17:53, Eliot Lear wrote:
> Hi Niels,
> 
> On 18.04.23 17:10, Niels ten Oever wrote:
>> Dear Andrew,
>>
>> You argue that there (still) is a lack of understanding among governments about the work of the IETF, isn't that exactly illustrating why an RG charter change is needed?
> 
> I don't think that follows.  An RG charter change cannot solve confusion between the IETF and IRTF, nor can it commit the IETF to anything> 

I fully agree! But work in an RG can help elucidate it.

>>
>> Apparently the work of other organizations to increase understanding about the workings of the IETF haven't sufficiently succeeded.
> 
> I am not sure that the IETF inner workings should need to be visible to those who don't wish to involve themselves, and I think Andrew's point is that making the distinction is hopeless *anyway*. And this is where it gets tricky.  I wouldn't fault anyone in the least for eliding the IETF and IRTF when talking to policy makers.  Our structure and “branding” simply doesn't make that easy for others to comprehend.
> 
> But that means we have to be quite precise as to what We (for our aggregated definition of "We") say we are doing.  And that isn't easy.
> 

I fully agree - and that is why I think it is exactly useful to have an RG doing this work and helping explain it - because this is clearly not sufficiently communicated through existing channels.

Best,

Niels

-- 
Niels ten Oever, PhD
Co-Principal Investigator - critical infrastructure lab - University of Amsterdam
Assistant Professor - Department of European Studies - University of Amsterdam

W: https://criticalinfralab.net
W: https://nielstenoever.net
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