Jerome C. Glenn & Theodore J. Gordon - Issues and Opportunities for the Future (1998)

Abstract

This issue presents the distillation of views of approximately 250 participants from around the world who have contributed their judgments about the state of the future. A total of 180 developments were identified and rated that could evolve over the foreseeable future to significantly improve the human condition. These were clustered into 15 global opportunities with suggested actions that might be useful in achieving the opportunities. The effectiveness of these actions was judged by policy makers and advisors. The relationships and impacts of the 15 global issues from last year’s report and the 15 global opportunities in this year’s report are included. Lessons and questions from history were also identified and rated for value in futures research. Global exploratory scenarios from the first year of the Project were extended by judgments of Project participants, quantitative global models, and “lessons of history.” Results of a global participatory process to produce global normative scenario sketches are also included. Ó 1998 American Council for the United Nations University.