ABSTRACT
THIS concluding chapter will provide an exemplification of what is meant by projective (or developmental) thinking about the dominant political possibilities of our epoch. In offering this provisional picture of things to corae, several purposes may be served. Undoubtedly the panorama will clarify what is meant by one of the skills of thought which háve been recommended as a desirable part of the equipment of democratic leaders (and citizens). Furthermore, the specific "construct" herein described may provide an incentive for the use of other intellectual skills. Goal thinking, for example, may be restimulated, since if his value-objectives touching upon human dignity háve been defined too narrowly in the past, the reader may reopen the question. (Has he confused values with a specific set of economic, political and sociál institutions to which his parochial experience has given him uncritical attachment?) In addition to goal thinking, the reader may re-examine his assumptions about trends, criticizing, for instance, his expectations about the triumph of "socialism" or "capitalism," in so far as they are founded upon knowledge of changes occurring in recent history. Going further, the reader may make an inventory of his scientific knowledge, especially the "laws" of "materiál" or "ideological" development-And more:
recognizing the peril to his democratic values in the impending future, the reader may think inventively about how to use his knowledge (of power, for instance) to protéct or advance his threatened goals. For constructs about the future are only probable, not "inevitable"; and successful use of the mind can be part of the historical process itself, interacting with other parts of the process to obviate occurrences which would otherwise také pláce. Such intellectual operations may point the way toward positive or negative strategies of democratic management.
