ABSTRACT
This chapter considers how Futures Studies (FS) can move away from being what many still consider a semi-esoteric field of enquiry and be transformed into a widespread operational capability-what we have been calling ‘social foresight’. This obviously will not be achieved by a sudden ‘shift of state’. Rather, the suggestion here is that it can be pro gressively enabled through five distinct layers, or levels of development. The first is grounded in the natural capacities of the human brain/mind system to comprehend a range of futures. The second focusses on the clarifying, enlivening and motivating role of futures concepts and ideas. Third are a number of analytic gains provided by futures tools and methods. Fourth, we turn to a range of practical applications, or contexts. The hypothesis is that when each of these levels functions in a coordinated way, grounds for the emergence of social foresight can clearly be seen. Hence the fifth stage involves the full implementation of social foresight.
