Learning outcomes
Students are able to distinguish, evaluate, and apply theories to explain societal and cultural transformations, power relations and agencies in different spheres and over varying timescales. Students understand how change is conceptualised in different theories and how this is related to alternative futures, anticipation and unpredictability of futures. They can articulate the linkages between these theories and previous, current and emerging cultural and social practices. Students have the skills to place them, for research purposes, within epistemic paradigms, and continue developing their theoretical thinking.
This advanced course will instruct students following generic working life skills: critical and analytical thinking, review skills and writing skills. It will also teach following futures skills: perceiving complexity, recognition of temporal perceptions in different theories, non-linear thinking and creativity.
Content
The course explores selected societal, socio-technical and cultural transformation theories, and reflects their premises and outcomes about cultural and societal change against the theoretical traditions of futures research. The course catalyses discussion of the role of theory and theory-building in futures studies. Specific theories of transformation are taught (e.g. K-waves, evolutionary economics, cultural transformation, and multi-level perspective on socio-technical change) and the role of agency in these theories. In relation to these, the course takes a deeper look into the various theoretical traditions of futures research (e.g. critical futures research, utilitarian dimensions) as well as the lineage of key futures studies concepts. Students encounter recent debates about the development of theoretical bases for futures studies, such as anticipation and futures literacy framework.
- Opettaja
Toni Ahlqvist