Futures: Difference between revisions

In the European context, Futures research became formalised during and after the World Wars, encouraged by intense collective efforts to anticipate and prepare for future military and geopolitical scenarios. Structured methods for long-term planning, systems thinking and strategic foresight were elaborated that emphasised prediction and control of future unknowns, attempting to minimise the threat of being blindsided by unforeseen events.

Modern-day Futures studies considers a broad range of potential futures, including societal and environmental shifts and transformations in science and technology. The interdisciplinary Futures field includes ecology, sociology, economics, anthropology, history, philosophy, Indigenous research and political science, along with various creative practices across domains for exploring uncertain, complex emergence. Decolonial and More-than-Human perspectives challenge conventional foresight approaches, cultural and personal bias, and limiting frameworks and expectations, whilst practices like scenario planning, performative worlding and imaginative techniques work to expand and enrich envisioning futures, as well as planning and policymaking.