Civil society is a third sector of society alongside the state and the market.
The values underlying civil society include freedom of association, freedom of expression, participatory democracy, and respect for diversity. A vigorous civil society is an important counter-balance to government and business. The growing global integration of markets and coordination of governments creates the need for a corresponding global civil society. Technical coordination of the Internet s core resources has unavoidable social, economic, and political consequences. This document is the product of individuals and organizations from around the world.