Empowering the Global South? Legitimacy in Regional Internet Registries

Abstract This article examines levels and patterns of legitimacy for three Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) centered in the global south. These organizations in Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America-Caribbean are unique in that they govern a key global resource in a south-led, regional, and nongovernmental manner. How far does such a distinctive approach to internet governance attract foundational confidence and approval from affected constituencies? The article first introduces the African Network Information Centre (AFRINIC), the Asia-Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC), and the Latin American and Caribbean Network Information Centre (LACNIC)—and discusses how legitimacy is important for their work. Data analysis of some 400 mixed-methods interviews then reveals that average legitimacy beliefs for LACNIC and APNIC are among the highest of all internet governance institutions. In contrast, AFRINIC attracts considerably mixed legitimacy perceptions. Furthermore, participants in these RIRs strongly endorse the principle of a south-centered, regional, and nongovernmental approach to internet governance, even if their assessments of actual practice are more mixed. Overall, then, we conclude that south-centered, regional, nongovernmental arrangements for internet governance can acquire solid approval, thereby pointing toward a possible alternative approach for handling other crucial global resources.