International Collaborative Online Networks

When we think about collaborative online networks, we usually think Wikipedia, Yahoo! Groups, and FaceBook. We do NOT think Central Intelligence Agency, Department of Defense, or United Nations. Yet these and other government agencies, international organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are increasingly looking to Web 2.0 applications to assist them in conducting their day-to-day operations. The most notable examples entail outreach to communities of experts which take these organizations well beyond their traditional comfort zone. A recently published CSIS report titled International Collaborative Online Networks: Lessons Identified from the Public, Private, and Nonprofit Sectors highlights key lessons from several efforts in this field.