In this paper - 'Jefferson Rebuffed - The United States and the Future of Internet Governance', the authors have attempted at delineating the possible factors behind US resistance to internationalisation of internet governance through the WSIS process.
Viktor Mayer-Schoenberger and Malte Ziewitz have identified delegation of power, objective rights, public choice, and de-legitimization of international regimes to be the possible causes of US resistance against the EU's proposal of democratising internet governance.
The authors conclude that, "We conclude that a combination of domestic pressures and aversion of international regimes caused the US government delegation to reject the proposal. As a result, WSIS concluded without a constitutional moment for Internet governance. It may turn out, though, to be a Pyrrhic victory for the United States. The calls for internationalization of Internet governance will not subside and the US will have to continue to fend off demands for a transfer of power. The opportunity for Internet governance to be based on the values of the Internet community, however, will likely not return."
Download the paper here.
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