CALL FOR SUMMARIES AND PROPOSALS
Send Summary before March 1, 2019
The 23rd World Conference in Mexico City will bring together researchers, policy makers, peace and development professionals, environmental advocates and students who will explore the different uses of the future (s) for Humanity. Participants will be encouraged to analyze and consider the various functions and purposes of the future (s): as a topic to be managed, as a source of hope, as a reservoir for the election, as a source of income, etc. This reflection can lead to several related aspects, such as the nature of the future, our responsibility towards the future or future generations (as futurists and as human beings), the role of future studies, the long-term implications of decisions current, how to plan or make policies, for the future, etc. In short, the Conference can be seen as intense research or creative ideas on the crucial role of improving democratic systems, peace processes, development and environmental innovations to transform the future and the future.
The Conference Program will include a variety of spaces and moments to approach the issue from different angles: opening speeches, parallel plenary and creative sessions, round tables and workshops. But it will also provide an open network space for participants who can connect informally.
We invite participants from all those interested in presenting their proposals, research or creative ideas on the crucial role of the improvement of democratic processes, peace, development and environmental innovations in the transformation of the future. All abstracts and proposals will be reviewed by experts and you will be notified of their acceptance on May 1, 2019.
If you wish to present a document or billboard, or hold a workshop at the Conference, send a summary / proposal (250 words maximum) by March 1, 2019 to the Directors of the Scientific Committee of the Conference at secretariat@wfsf.org and see at https://www.wfsfconferencemexico.org
The conference is bilingual Spanish / English. Abstracts and presentations are accepted in both languages.
Where: UNAM- Faculty of Political and Social Sciences. Mexico City - Mexico
When: September 10 to 13, 2019
Topics and subtopics
USES OF THE FUTURES. Business as usual or Traditional uses
Some of the most widespread applications of activities related to the future are the management of uncertainty. Therefore, we can find a rich literature with many cases that cover a broad spectrum that ranges from crisis management and rapid response mechanisms to systems of anticipation but that include preventive approaches and strategic planning. However, the question here should be, is this use still valid? Do you need an update?
OUR DUTY AS WORLD CITIZENS or Cosmopolitan Uses / Planetary Uses
The future (s) is (are) one (several) of the few questions that really cover all of humanity. For example, the great challenges can not be addressed only from a local or regional perspective, they do need a global approach. However, there are other questions that can be better addressed at the regional, national or local level. While some problems, such as security and conflict resolution, require a multi-layered approach. In any case, all this helps us understand the relevance of networks and the importance of promoting them.
FUTURES AND BEYOND Creative uses
Futures studies have traditionally been contained within a scientific and empirical approach. However, there is growing evidence that, quite often, we are better at imagining the future (s) than in anticipating or predicting it. Art, design, science fiction and other fields are opening new ways of knowing and exploring the future (s). Imagination and intuition must be actively used to investigate the future. However, the main problem here would be if the use of these creative alternatives can be accepted as a valid and reliable way of committing to the future.
STUDIES OF FUTURES AS A WHOLE or Holistic Uses
Richard Slaughter already declared that the futures are, first of all, an intellectual domain. Therefore, it must be addressed in a comprehensive manner; he can not limit himself to apprehend a set of tools, he must embrace the study of his tradition and history plus the various theoretical schools that have been working on him. Ultimately, we must aim for all humanity to reach a minimum level of future literacy, so that we can all participate in a real debate exercise on what the future of the future and the human communities of tomorrow can be like.