CLA Game

A participatory futures methodology for transformative scenario exploration

Overview

The CLA-Game is a participatory futures method based on Sohail Inayatullah’s Causal Layered Analysis (CLA) framework. It uses role-playing and layered analysis to deconstruct and reconstruct complex issues, enabling groups to explore alternative futures by examining surface-level problems, systemic structures, cultural worldviews, and underlying myths123. Below is a breakdown of its structure and gameplay:

Core Structure: The Four CLA Layers

The game operates across four interconnected levels:

  1. Litany: Surface-level facts, headlines, or immediate perceptions of an issue (e.g., “Unemployment is rising”).
  2. Systemic Causes: Structural drivers like policies, economic systems, or institutional practices.
  3. Worldviews/Stakeholder Perspectives: Cultural, ideological, or stakeholder beliefs shaping the issue.
  4. Myths/Metaphors: Deep narratives, symbols, or unconscious stories underpinning societal assumptions124.

How to Play the CLA-Game

Phase 1: Setup

  1. Group Formation: Divide participants into four teams, each assigned to one CLA layer.
  2. Scenario/Topic Selection: Choose a focal issue (e.g., “Future of energy systems”) or use predefined scenarios (e.g., “Radical Startups” or “Green DIY Engineers”)35.

Phase 2: Layered Analysis

  • Litany Group: Create a “front-page news headline” reflecting the surface reality of the issue (e.g., “Solar Power Overtakes Fossil Fuels by 2050”)35.
  • Systemic Group: Identify structural causes using tools like PESTEC analysis (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Ecological, Cultural)36.
  • Worldview Group: Role-play stakeholders (e.g., policymakers, activists) to articulate competing ideologies and alliances/enemies75.
  • Myth/Metaphor Group: Uncover foundational stories or symbols (e.g., “Energy as a communal right” vs. “Energy as a commodity”)84.

Phase 3: Interaction and Reconstruction

  • Groups present their layer’s findings, then rotate perspectives to critique or expand other layers.
  • Participants collaboratively design alternative futures by reimagining myths, revising systems, and creating new headlines85.

Phase 4: Debrief and Strategy

  • Identify leverage points for transformative change (e.g., shifting metaphors from “growth” to “regeneration”).
  • Develop actionable strategies aligned with reconstructed scenarios38.

Key Mechanics

  • Role-Playing: Participants embody stakeholders or “mythic archetypes” to challenge assumptions75.
  • Iceberg Worksheets: Visual tools map issues from litany (tip) to myths (base)8.
  • Iterative Refinement: Continuous feedback between layers ensures holistic insights34.

Example Application

In a Neo-Carbon Energy workshop, players deconstructed scenarios like “Value-Driven Techemoths” by:

  1. Litany: Crafting news headlines about decentralized energy grids.
  2. Systemic: Analyzing policies enabling peer-to-peer energy trading.
  3. Worldview: Debating roles of corporations vs. communities.
  4. Myth: Replacing “energy scarcity” with “abundance through solidarity”365.

Conclusion

The CLA-Game fosters collaborative foresight by merging analytical rigor with creative storytelling, making it a powerful tool for addressing “wicked problems” like climate change or societal equity.84 By systematically moving through the four layers of analysis while incorporating participatory elements, the game creates transformative spaces where participants can discover new possibilities for understanding and action.

References

  1. Inayatullah, S. “Causal layered analysis - theory, historical context, and case studies” - Intro chapter from The CLA Reader ↩ ↩2

  2. Sohail Inayatullah - CLA Presentation ↩ ↩2

  3. Testing transformative energy scenarios through causal layered analysis gaming ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  4. Inayatullah, S. “Causal layered analysis - Deepening the Future” ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  5. CLA Game 2020 - Teaching the Future ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  6. Testing transformative energy scenarios through causal layered analysis gaming - University of Turku ↩ ↩2

  7. “My son deals in hamburgers and other futures” - Causal Layered Analysis in Rio de Janeiro ↩ ↩2

  8. CLA Game Tool - UN Global Pulse Intergenerational Equity ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

Notes mentioning this note

Causal layered analysis (cla)
A comprehensive guide to understanding and applying Sohail Inayatullah’s transformative futures methodology
Methods
A comprehensive overview of methods, frameworks, and tools in foresight and futures studies
Polak Game
A diagnostic futures tool for surfacing assumptions about agency and optimism
Sohail Inayatullah
UNESCO Chair in Futures Studies and Developer of Causal Layered Analysis
Index
Complete Index of Notes

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