Journal of Futures Studies

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The Journal of Futures Studies is a globally-oriented, trans-disciplinary refereed journal. Its mission is to develop high-quality, futures-oriented research and thinking, based on the evolving knowledge base of Futures Studies / Foresight.

The Journal’s approach is: Trans-disciplinary; – Epistemologically diverse, seeking articles from empirical, interpretative, critical and action learning research traditions, and; Multi-methods based, including, for example, methods such as emerging issues analysis, scenario and alternative futures development and analysis, age-cohort analysis, causal layered analysis, visioning and backcasting.

As well as refereed articles, the Journal publishes essays, book reviews, symposia and art on the following topics: Epistemologically focused futures studies on the construction of possible, probable and preferable futures; Methodological innovation in futures studies, including not only integrated, layered, and critical approaches, but also empirical, interpretive or action-learning based approaches; Applied Futures (for example, case studies in using and practicing futures thinking for organizational change, development and transformation); Alternative futures on a variety of subjects (see topic categories below).

The journal is published by the Graduate Institute of Futures Studies, Tamkang University, Tamsui, Taipei, Taiwan.

Aricles and Essays

Vol.22 No.2 December 2017

Introduction by the Special Editor to the Symposium on Gaming Futures - Ivana Milojević

The papers presented here within the journal symposium on Gaming Futures arose from another symposium, a live gather on Gaming the Future(s): Pedagogies for Emergent Futures, held at and hosted by Tamkang University, Taiwan, November 10-11 2016 (in association with Kyung Hee University and the Hawaii Research Center for Futures Studies). The symposium brought a wide variety of people together from many parts of the world, academics, futurist, game designers, researchers and others, in a warm and sunny autumn in Tamsui. Tamsui, located at the northern end of the island of Taiwan and at the mouth of the Tamsui river which snakes southward into the capital Taipei, is home to one of the longest futures studies program in existence at Tamkang University. Based on the leadership from founder Clement C.P. Chang, and Flora Chang, for over 40 years the university has been teaching futures studies, running conferences and research projects through the Graduate Institute of Futures Studies. In this context, the rationale for both symposiums has been well summarised in the conference brochure and the subsequent call for papers: View PDF here.

Read more of Vol.22 and view the entire catalog here.

Digital Exhibits

The Future of Marriage |September 22nd, 2017 | by John Sweeney

The Future of Marriage is a conceptualization of American marriage in the year 2036 from a U.S. West-coast perspective. The project was developed over the course of five months in 2016 by four graduate students in the MBA Design Strategy program at the California College of the Arts, in a course run by Dr. Jake Dunagan. Using acquired concepts and methods from Strategic Foresight to build future scenarios, The Future of Marriage coalesces these scenarios into a film that explores marriage in the year 2036. Read on here.

Find more Digital Exhibits here.

Special Issues and Symposia

Symposium on Reimagining Politics After the Election of Trump 2017

Introduction by the Editor

It was a future many did not want to believe was even possible. A second rate real estate billionaire with a slew of mediocre business ventures, turned bawdy reality TV star, turned political agent – openly racist, sexist and authoritarian – it couldn’t be. As he mocked his political opponents (Jeb Bush as “low energy” etc.) like a schoolyard bully, the farcical nature of the gaffes (free press coverage?) told us that he would destroy his own chances through careless and inflammatory comments and actions. Read on here.

Introduction to the Special Issue on “Exploring Paths to a Viable Future”

By Graeme Taylor and José M. Ramos

This Special Issue is focused on “Exploring paths to a viable future: obstacles and opportunities; requirements and strategies”. In our invitation for submissions we said: “Today we find ourselves at a difficult cross-road: although we know that business as usual is unsustainable, the path to a viable future is not clear…. This call for papers asks for articles,reports and essays exploring the enormous challenge of how the global political economy can be rapidly transformed into a sustainable system.” Read on here.

Introduction to the Special Issue on Science Fiction and Futures Studies

by Tom Lombardo & José M. Ramos

My book, Contemporary Futurist Thought (2006), presents reviews of well over onehundred different theories, paradigms, and approaches to the future, ranging from the scientific,materialistic, and rationalistic to the spiritual, metaphysical, and humanistic. Reflecting the great contemporary diversity in mindsets and perspectives regarding the future, the book also includes a key chapter on science fiction. I see in science fiction a literary and narrative approach to the future, and have described it as nothing less than a new “mythology of the future.” Why “mythology”? Myth, which emerged in ancient human history, provided many visions, narratives, and prophecies of the future that still influence the minds of countless millions across the globe. Having a deep fascination with science fiction since my youth, I see the genre in its contemporary form as offering modern myths about the future, and significantly contributing into the great wealth and diversity of contemporary paradigms and approaches to the future. Read on here.