World Future Review: A Journal of Strategic Foresight

Futures research encompasses both an evolving philosophy and a range of techniques. Its primary objective is to assist decision makers in understanding the potential consequences of present and future decisions by developing images of alternative futures. It has strong historical origins in sociology, political science, and other social sciences. As well, corporate and institutional planning, strategic and long-range planning, and national security are all part of the heritage of futures studies. Successful futures research is informed by work in established academic disciplines as well as cross-disciplinary fields, such as technology assessment, policy analysis, operations research, issues management, competition research, and many more.

World Future Review is a refereed journal. A prestigious international Editorial Review Board has been established to perform anonymous review of articles submitted for publication. WFR seeks to encourage and facilitate communication among researchers and practitioners in all related fields and from all geographic, social, political, and economic sectors. It is also intended to promote public understanding and education in the methods and applications of futures research. The focus of the editors is not only with specific techniques and planning tools, but also with the role of futures research in the larger context of decision making in a range of settings.

In addition to full-length articles and abstracts of the most important new foresight relevant literature, World Future Review will publish interviews of leading futures practitioners, full reviews of critical publications, reader reactions to articles, notes from Editorial Board members, and relevant topical items. Because it is sometimes not possible to present all viewpoints within the confines of a single WFR issue, we rely upon our readers to provide the necessary balance through their responses to material they might perceive as controversial or one-sided. In addition, the editors will seek to encourage as much cross-dialogue as possible among schools of thought within each issue.

In brief, it is our intent that this journal shall provide a forum for all who are professionally involved with the theory, methodology, practice, and use of futures research.

World Future Review (ISSN 1946-7567) is published bimonthly by the World Future Society. It is included with Professional and Institutional Membership in the Society and is available by subscription to libraries and other institutions at $330 per year. The dues for Professional Membership are $275 ($185 for individuals affiliated with educational or nonprofit organizations).

Become a professional member or renew your membership today.

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What You'll Find in the August-September Issue:

A limited number of copies of the August-September Issue of World Future Review (Vol. 1, No. 3, June-July 2009) are available for just $25 including postage. Order your copy today!

Trend Analysis as Pattern Recognition by Stephen M. Millett

A Systems View of the Cultural Personality: A Mimetic Approach to a Better Future by Kazuo Mizuta

Into the Future: A Glimpse of Medical Technology by Samantha Palmer

In Pursuit of Perfection by Jenna Leigh Chiemi Kagimoto

Trends in the Global and American Economy by Maya Chandrasekaran

What You'll Find in the June-July Issue:

A limited number of copies of the June-July Issue of World Future Review (Vol. 1, No. 3, June-July 2009) are available for just $25 including postage. Order your copy today!

Future Brains: An Exploration of Human Evolution in the 21st Century And Beyond by Arthur Saniotis

Where Has the Energy Picture Gone Wrong? Under Pressure Society Explores Forlorn Directions Such as Biofuels, Windmill Farms, and Hybrid Cars by Theodore Modis

E–learning and Online Education: Implications for the Future of Law Enforcement Training by Jim Leal

Better Ways to Aid A book review by Rick Docksai. In Dead Aid, World Bank consultant Dambisa Moyo argues that the West’s aid policies do the developing world more harm than good.

Featured Futurist: Finding New Resources in an Economic Downturn An interview with Ed Gordon, author of Winning the Global Talent Showdown.

What You'll Find in the April-May Issue:

A limited number of copies of the April-May Issue of World Future Review (Vol. 1, No. 2, April-May 2009) are available for just $25 including postage. Order your copy today!

Futures Thinking and Macro-Systems by Michael Marien

WORLDSHIFT! Creating a Quantum Leap in the Global Brain: To Shift or Not to Shift – Why That Is NOT the Question by Ervin Laszlo

Worldshift: What Are the Questions? by Michael Marien

The Emerging Inner Solar System Economy by Richard Sylvan, Narayanan M. Komerath, Kirk Woellert, Mark Homnick, and Joseph E. Palaia IV

Future Systems Engineering and the Role of Complexity by Shah Selbe

Creating Conditions for a Lasting Peace a review of the book Hamas in Politics: Democracy, Religion, Violence by Jeroen Gunning

Featured Futurist: Separating Foresight Wheat from Foresight Chaff an interview with Adam Gordon, author of Future Savvy

Future Survey abstracts of books, articles, blogs, and reports concerning forecasts, trends, and ideas about the future

What You'll Find in the February-March Issue:

A limited number of copies of the Inaugural Issue of World Future Review (Vol. 1, No. 1, February-March 2009) are available for just $25 including postage. Order your copy today!

Towards a Future Global Science: Axioms for Modeling a Living Universe by Elisabet Sahtouris, Ph.D.

Ensuring Strategic Direction: Using Principles-Based Strategy and Scenarios Together by Robert E. Neilson

Ethnography in Robotics: Communications, Design, and Innovation in the Robotics for Theater Project by Gerardo del Cerro Santamaria

The Future Evolution of the Ecology of Mind by Tom Lombardo, Ph.D.

A Field Guide to the Net Generation a review of the book Grown Up Digital

Featured Futurist: The Global Internet Generation Comes of Age an interview with Don Tapscott, author of Grown Up Digital

Future Survey abstracts of books, articles, blogs, and reports concerning forecasts, trends, and ideas about the future

Editor, Timothy C. Mack

Board of Editors

Wendell Bell, professor emeritus and senior research scientist, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
Clement Bezold, chairman, Institute for Alternative Futures, Alexandria, Virginia
Edith Blass, senior lecturer in professional education, University of Herfordshire, Hatfield, England
Arnold Brown, chairman, Weiner, Edrich, Brown, Inc., New York, New York
Robert Chartrand, retired, U.S. Congressional Research Service, Bethesda, Maryland
Joseph F. Coates, Joseph F. Coates Consulting Futurist, Inc., Washington, D.C.
Magdolna Csath, professor, University of Godolo, Budapest, Hungary
James Dator, professor, Department of Political Science, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii
Adam Gordon, The Future Studio, Cardiff, United Kingdom
Mika Mannermaa, Future Studies Mannermaa Ltd., Pispanristi, Finland
Burt Nanus, author and professor emeritus, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
Richard Slaughter, Foresight International, Indooroopilly, Queensland, Australia
Art Shostak, retired professor, Department of Culture and Communication, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania