Interesting Questions in Futures Studies & Foresight

The following is an ongoing list of questions that I bump into in my work in futures studies and foresight. An alternative view of this list would be as a collection of suggestions for topics of master’s theses that I hope someone who studies something with futures would pick up.

  • Why is futures work so often ignored, and how can it become more effective? (especially in the [[ What good is scientific rigor when nobody gives a shit|European context ]])
  • Psychology vs. sociology in futures studies and/or foresight
  • How to better transition from foresight work to strategy? What comes after the report?
  • What exactly are Preferred Futures? What are they describing? What is their role in foresight work? What is the best way to create them?
  • What is a proper theory of the future for futures studies and foresight? What are its components?
  • What would a field of futures studies look like that isn’t a descendant of the military?
  • In a complex world, it gets harder and harder to distinguish between the different categories of STEEPL. Most signals or trends fall into more than one. What could an adapted or alternative model look like?
  • …

Let me know if you have recommendations for possible answers (like articles or other publications) or want to discuss a question.

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AI and science fictionAI, future imaginaries, and futures studiesArtificial IntelligenceAnti DystopiaApproachDr. Armin GrunwaldArticle - Future FailArticle – Future of Terranascient Futures Studies...Article - Futures from RuinsArticles on FuturesArtifical general intelligence (agi)Artificial Intelligence and future imaginariesArticle – Beyond Capitalist RealismThe Blue Ant TrilogyBooks on FuturesCla gameCharacteristics of Future ImaginariesCollective MemoryCommon SenseComparable and related approachesComparison of national AI strategiesComponents of Future ImaginariesConceptual challenges and inconsistenciesConclusionCondensation of Future ImaginariesCritical Futures StudiesCyberpunkDates and eventsDifferentiation from similar termsDigital GardenEarly Approaches to ImaginariesEffect of performativity on future imaginariesFictional Expectations from BeckertFred PolakPaper – From Critique to Cultural RecoveryFuture Imaginaries from CookFuture Imaginaries from Goode and GodheFuture ScenarioFutures StudiesFutures terminologyFuturesGlobal business networkGoalsImages of the Future from InayatullahImaginaries from Lockton and CandyImaginaries from an anthropological perspectiveImaginariesInteresting Questions in Futures Studies &...IntroductionIntroductions to Futures Thinking & ForesightKey questions in critical futures studiesLeitbildLiterature on Critical Futures StudiesLongtermismMaster's Thesis – Future ImaginariesMeaning-Making and AIMegatrendsMetaphorMethodsMinimum group size for (future) imaginariesMythNele fischer on critical futures studiesNo future is neutralNo such thing as “future-proof”Observations from the examination of futures and...Official futureOutlook – Application of future imaginariesOverton WindowPattern recognitionPresent futures from GrunwaldPull of the FutureQuestions for the Start of a Foresight ProjectRationalistsResearch QuestionsRoles of Future ImaginariesSarkar gameSituating the ResearcherSocial ImaginariesSociotechnical Imaginaries from JasanoffSohail InayatullahTescrealThe Difference between Present Futures and Future...Book – The Image of the FutureThe JackpotThe network stateThe Role of Futures in CapitalismThe distinction between imaginaries and future...The vagueness of future imaginariesThinkers on futuresTools for the examination of future imaginariesTowards a definition of Future ImaginariesTraining Practice for FuturistsSorry, but this is not a trend reportVisionWhat good is scientific rigor when nobody gives a...William GibsonMethod: WindtunnelingWorldbuildingCritical FuturesFuture Imaginaries