{"id":100653,"date":"2024-04-23T16:04:03","date_gmt":"2024-04-23T14:04:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hiig.de\/?p=100653"},"modified":"2025-03-17T17:10:49","modified_gmt":"2025-03-17T16:10:49","slug":"honey-we-need-to-talk-about-the-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hiig.de\/en\/honey-we-need-to-talk-about-the-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Honey, we need to talk about the future"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In a world balancing between crisis and transformation, we need to infuse public dialogue with new visions of the future. Using (critical) futures studies and futures literacy, we can challenge the status quo and invite a diversity of voices to imagine and redefine what lies ahead. Beyond academia, this is a call to action to see the future as a canvas for imagination that requires collective effort. The \u2018Making Sense of the Future\u2019 toolkit, based on futures studies methods, provides an introductory pathway to futures thinking. <\/em>This blog post explains the theoretical underpinning on which the toolkit is centred and briefly outlines its practical exercises.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Images of \u201cthe future\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Amidst a multiplicity of crises and challenges \u2014 ranging from pandemics and escalating inequality to climate emergencies and digital transformation \u2013 we have entered an era of unparalleled uncertainty<\/a>. The once-optimistic projections of a future of prosperity, sustainability, and the absence of war and poverty promised by the narrative of scientific progress <\/a>and technological salvation are fading<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From pop culture to politics, the concept of ‘the future’\u00b9 has become a contested terrain. Silicon Valley’s tech elites and influential institutions often hold the reins. Their narrow visions, whether apocalyptic or utopian<\/a>, set the agenda and frame our collective imaginations of what’s to come<\/a>. Yet, such projections, while widespread, rarely take into account diverse perspectives. Against this backdrop, the call for a critical reassessment of our relationship with the future grows louder. There is a pressing need for inclusivity in our collective imagination, aiming to ensure more democratic and reflective<\/a> participation in its construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Credit: \u201cUsed Futures\/Futuristic Visions for 2040\u201d: Generic visualizations generated by the author using Stable Diffusion AI<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Beyond Prediction: Futures Literacy and Critical Futures Studies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In navigating the complex terrain between apocalyptic and utopian visions that permeate our cultural landscape one might wonder: in what other ways can the future be imagined today? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Futures studies is concerned with this question, seeking to discover not only what futures are possible, desirable or probable<\/a>, but also how they are currently imagined and how they might be reshaped. As Kreibich outlines, this academic field explores a spectrum of futures, while critical futures studies deconstructs and reconstructs ‘present futures’<\/a> \u2013 the ways in which the future is imagined in the present<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unsurprisingly, the images of the future we hold today reveal less about future events than about the present: desires, interests, needs and visions of contemporary society that are reflected in these future projections. This reflection on ‘present futures’ invites us to confront the limitations and assumptions<\/a> within public discourse, challenging us to envision a broader array of possible futures. By considering futures as \u2018critical\u2019 we acknowledge the role of worldmaking in the face of multiple planetary crises as a matter of urgency and risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Azoulay (2018) reminds us, “There can be no assurances that the choices we make today will create a better tomorrow \u2014 but we can become better able to harness our imagination to grasp the potential of the present and craft ways to act that are consistent with our values\u201d. This conviction is at the center of the concept of \u2018Futures Literacy,\u2019 which was\u00a0developed by Riel Miller and institutionalized through his work at Head of Foresight and Futures Literacy at UNESCO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Futures literacy is the ability to ‘use the future’<\/a> in multiple ways, which marks it as a critical competence. It encompasses the ability to engage with the future, not just as a speculative or predictive exercise.  Rather, it involves the utilisation of our understanding of potential futures to inform present actions. This makes it a vital skill for navigating the complexities of the contemporary world and democratising the creation of imagined futures<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2192 Video: <\/em> https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=q-Fmd21Jopo<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n

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