GIG-ARTS 2025: The Rise of Digital Sovereignty: Ambiguities and Challenges

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.

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.

• Defining digital sovereignty: Conceptual frameworks and theories
• Comparative perspectives on digital sovereignty
• The economy of digital sovereignty: Protectionism vs. global digital integration
• The geopolitics of digital sovereignty
• Digital sovereignty and digital constitutionalism
• Digital sovereignty and national security
• Motivations and implications of data localization, network territorialization, and platform regulation
• Digital sovereignty and digital colonialism, authoritarianism, and imperialism
• The role of international organizations (WTO, ITU, etc.) in digital sovereignty
• Tech standardization and sovereignty: Competing global norms
• Global digital supply chains and strategic autonomy
• Cybersecurity, weaponization, and digital sovereignty
• Digital sovereignty and emerging technologies
• Digital sovereignty and environmental issues
• Digital sovereignty and Internet fragmentation

As always, alongside the main theme, the GIG-ARTS conference also welcomes papers on other aspects of internet governance.

Submission information

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 https://conftool2025.gig-arts.eu/ 

Key dates

• Deadline for abstract submissions: 31 January 2025
• Notification to authors: 1 April 2025
• Deadline for author registration (at least one author must register for a selected presentation to appear on the programme): 14 April 2025
• Programme publication: 20 April 2025
• Registration deadline: 15 May 2025
• Conference dates: 26-27 May 2025

Co-Sponsors

Internet & Communication Policy Center (ICPC) https://www.internetpolicyresearch.eu/ 

Salerno Winter School on Internet Governance (SWING) https://www.internetpolicyresearch.eu/swing-2025

Digital Constitutionalism Network (DCN) https://digitalconstitutionalism.org

Italian Ministry of University and Research
Grant PRIN 2022KTTSBC - CUP Master D53D23007300006
Digital Sovereignty in Comparative Perspective: State Authority, Corporate Power and Fundamental Rights in Cyberspace

Programme Committee

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.

Organizing Committee

Chairs: Francesco Amoretti, Nicola Palladino, Mauro Santaniello

Local Team: Carlos Andrés Fonseca Diaz, Nascia Tatiana Fera, Armando Antonio Ferrara, Gerardo Ferrentino, Serena Fraiese, Chiara Spiniello, Grace X. Yang.
 

Venue

GIG-ARTS 2025 will be held at the University of Salerno, Campus of Fisciano.

Conference Registration and Fees

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. The registration deadline is 15 May 2025.

Communication Channels

- Website: www.gig-arts.eu 

- Email for information: events@gig-arts.eu

- Submissions: https://conftool2025.gig-arts.eu/ 

- X/Twitter: @GigArtsEU - Hashtag: #GIGARTS25

- Mailing list for updates: https://gig-arts.eu/mailman/listinfo/mailinglist_gig-arts.eu