The Goals for This Policy and Process
The Association of Internet Researchers (AoIR) is a member-based, academic association dedicated to the promotion of critical and scholarly internet research independent from traditional disciplines and existing across academic borders.
In line with the organization’s mission, values, and objectives (see Appendix 3), the AoIR Executive Committee has developed a policy and a process for publishing statements regarding global and/or local socio-political issues that concern internet research. If approved by the community, this policy and process would guide any political statement published by AoIR in the future.
We crafted this policy and process with the goal of valuing community participation while fostering transparency and accountability. Our goal is to provide AoIR members with the opportunity to speak collectively on matters of importance at the intersection of our organization and the wider world.
In developing a clear and transparent policy/process that all members can use, the Executive Committee hopes to encourage and foster our organization’s impact on society and on important matters of the day, as they relate to our areas of expertise and lived experiences.
This is also an experiment for us—one that we recognize is imperfect and evolving. We will learn from this process, refine it, and continue to explore how democratic decision-making can best serve our community. We appreciate your patience and grace as we navigate and improve this together.
Criteria for submitting statements
- The purpose of this process is for AoIR members to suggest topics and issues that you consider the organization should take a public stance on.
- All statements should closely align with AoIR’s mission, values, and objectives.
- It is the responsibility of the AoIR Executive Committee to ensure that the language of the statement and the proposed actions accurately represent the diverse perspectives and values of the community, aligning with the organization’s mission, values, and objectives.
- Statements can be approved by the AoIR Executive Committee via a vote, or by the AoIR community via plebiscite if no majority is formed in the Executive Committee vote.
- Successful statements will be signed by the organization rather than by the members of the AoIR Executive Committee or by the AoIR members who proposed the statement.
- Due to our nonprofit status, statements may not constitute political electoral endorsements. The Exec may obtain legal counsel regarding proposed statements if they could contravene our bylaws or imperil our organization’s legal status.
Procedure (This procedure is also available as a flowchart, see Appendix 1.)
- A Self-Organized Group (henceforth SOG) self-organizes and crafts a proposal. Importantly, the SOG must be composed of at least 5 current paid AoIR members. Groups interested in drafting a proposal may publicize their interest on the AoIR mailing list, but no discussion on it should happen there.
- The SOG fills in a form on the AoIR website (see Appendix 2). The form contains 5 questions, including a proposal for a resolution or draft statement.
- The Executive Committee receives the filled form. It analyzes: Does the proposal contain all required information? Does it fit with AoIR’s mission, values, and objectives (see Appendix 3)? If not, the Executive Committee communicates to the SOG what is needed and the form is re-submitted.
- If in possession of all the necessary material, the Executive Committee defines when the statement can come to a vote by the Executive Committee. A meeting is scheduled up to 3 months after receiving complete documentation (shorter times are expected, if there is capacity).
- The Executive Committee discusses the proposal. If the Executive Committee needs further information or wants to suggest changes to the proposal, these are communicated to the SOG. (Changes may be requested by the Executive Committee two times, and it is the role of the SOG to decide if and how they are implemented.)
- The Proposal goes to the full Executive Committee for a vote. Three outcomes are possible:
– If a majority in favor is formed, the statement is posted on the AoIR website, including a note on how the decision-making process was followed.
– If a majority against is formed, the proposal is denied. The process followed is published on the AoIR website.
– If no majority is formed, the proposal goes to a plebiscite of AoIR members. Note: Executive Committee members can abstain from voting, which does not count toward forming either majority. (This means, in other words, that members of the Executive Committee may abstain from voting as a way to “vote” for the plebiscite to happen.) - In case a plebiscite is needed, it must take place within 2 months of the Executive Committee vote via internet voting (in a similar system to our elections). Only current paid AoIR members of the organization at the moment the vote starts are allowed to vote.
– A thread is open for discussion on the AoIR website, exclusively for members. Members can discuss the statement, provided they follow AoIR’s Code of Conduct. (This too is similar to the election procedure).
– All members are informed of their right to vote via e-mail, and the voting will be open for two weeks (14 days).
– A plebiscite is valid if at least a quorum of 10% of the current paid membership votes. If the quorum is not reached, the proposal is denied.
– If the plebiscite reaches the required quorum of 10% and the proposal is approved by a majority of current paid members of the organization who vote (50%+1 of votes), the proposal is approved and the statement is posted on the AoIR website. If not, it is denied.
Adopting this Policy
- This procedure will be approved following the same process as the recent ratification of our new Code of Conduct.
- A first draft of this procedure was circulated to the AoIR community in Sept/Oct 2024.
- A forum was opened on the AoIR membership website (https://members.aoir.org/Discussion-Forums/13414313) to allow members of the organization to submit comments and/or suggestions to the Policy/Process. During the AoIR2024 (Sheffield) AGM, space for feedback was open to the community.
- A virtual vote of the AoIR community will be open to ratify this Policy/Process.
- If the vote is approved by the majority of voters, the Policy/Process will take effect immediately.
- After one year of the ratification of this procedure or five discussed statements (whichever happens first), AoIR’s Subcommittee on Political Statements will convene to discuss if the Policy/Process is working and to define if changes are needed.
Appendix 1: Flowchart for proposing a political statement
Appendix 2: Online form for AoIR members to submit proposals
- Please list the AoIR members who are submitting this proposal. At least five (5) active members are needed. Please include: names, roles, institutions. Please make sure all are active members in the organization.
Example: Fernando Moser, senior lecturer, Hudson University, active member since 2018 - How does the proposal align with the mission of AoIR? Please provide a concise rationale, emphasizing its merits and how it aligns with the mission, values, and objectives of the Association as summarized in Appendix 3. (max 300 words)
- Please provide comprehensive documentation on the issue, including:
(a) a detailed description of the issue;
(b) the anticipated impact of the statement and the significant dates related to this impact, such as deadlines or critical milestones;
(c) the relevance of the issue to the field of internet research. (max 600 words total) - What are the specific activities and/or calls to action being recommended in your proposal? Please provide a detailed description of them, outlining the nature and scope of these actions as well as their potential implications for AoIR’s membership or other stakeholders. If your proposal does not include any specific activities or calls to action, please clearly state that and why. (max. 200 words)
- Please provide a draft of your (public-facing) statement. Please note that the AoIR Executive Committee will review the proposal and may suggest changes. It is the responsibility of the AoIR Executive Committee to ensure that the language of the statement and the proposed actions accurately represent the diverse perspectives and values of the community, aligning with the organization’s mission and objectives. (There is no set maximum, but we suggest no more than 1000 words for a compelling statement)
- Please include any other attachments that are relevant to the proposal.
Appendix 3: Mission, values, and objectives of AoIR
Statements should closely align with AoIR’s mission, values, and objectives. Therefore, they should clearly indicate how they concern internet research, broadly speaking. To help submissions, we have listed below some useful resources.
Mission:
“The Association of Internet Researchers (AoIR) is a member-based, academic association dedicated to the promotion of critical and scholarly internet research independent from traditional disciplines and existing across academic borders.”
Values:
AoIR has a Diversity and Inclusivity statement and a Code of Conduct.
AoIR has an ongoing commitment to ensuring that research on and about the Internet is conducted in an ethical and professional manner (see our Ethics documents).
Objectives:
According to Section 2 of our bylaws:
“The specific objectives and purposes of this corporation shall be:
(a) to provide an international, interdisciplinary and interprofessional organization for promotion of scholarly and critical research into the social, cultural, political, economic and aesthetic aspects of the Internet.
(b) to organize and sponsor regular conferences to provide a forum so those engaged in Internet research can meet and exchange information about their work.
(c) to sponsor and disseminate information about Internet research through publication of a site on the world wide web and through other publications.
(d) to encourage recognition of Internet studies as an area for scholarly research, curriculum development and teaching.
(e) to establish connections between the scholarly community, those in Internet and Internet-related industries, and Internet users.
(f) to encourage the development of research and systematic study in topics and areas of Internet and Internet-related phenomena where such study is not well developed, both in terms of pioneering, substantive intellectual areas and in terms of regions, localities and institutions interested in Internet studies.
(g) to be a clearinghouse for information about Internet research resources and encourage their development.
(h) to encourage socially responsible Internet research that serves the common good.
(i) to engender a networked approach to the establishment, growth, and organization of this association.”
