Abstract
The World Futures Studies Federation (WFSF), founded in 1973, has been the leading international body for futures research and foresight scholarship for over five decades. This article offers an in-depth account of the Federation’s achievements and innovations from 2017 to 2025, a period marked by renewal, expansion, and global engagement. During this era, WFSF celebrated its 50th anniversary, deepened collaboration with UNESCO and the United Nations, launched program and course accreditation services for foresight education, expanded regional chapters, and strengthened its role as a global convener of academic and applied futures communities. The article situates WFSF’s work in the wider history of futures studies, highlights its unique pluralistic ethos, and examines how the Federation has advanced foresight education, and global policy engagement. It concludes by outlining the Federation’s enduring contributions to shaping the futures studies and its prospective trajectory as humanity faces unprecedented challenges.
Introduction
Since its foundation in Paris in 1973, the World Futures Studies Federation (WFSF) has sought to advance futures studies as an academic discipline and a global practice. Distinct from its contemporaries, WFSF was established on the principles of cultural pluralism, interdisciplinarity, and planetary responsibility. It has consistently emphasized alternative, inclusive, and emancipatory futures, encouraging systemic awareness and collective anticipation.
The period between 2017 and 2025 has been particularly dynamic in the Federation’s history. Under the leadership of President Erik F. Øverland, WFSF embarked on strategic programs that consolidated its academic credibility, extended its institutional partnerships, and renewed its role in addressing global challenges. These years have witnessed the institutionalization of foresight accreditation, greater involvement in global governance through the United Nations system, regional and thematic expansions, and the successful organization of world conferences across continents. This article documents these milestones and reflects on their significance within the global futures community.
1. WFSF’s Historical Legacy and Contemporary Renewal
1.1 The Pluralistic Foundations of Futures Studies
Futures studies emerged in the post-war period as an interdisciplinary practice informed by sociology, policy sciences, and systems theory. The WFSF was born out of a critique of technocratic and predictive approaches, advocating instead for a pluralistic, cultural, and critical orientation. Throughout its history, WFSF has acted as a bridge between scholars, practitioners, and policymakers, ensuring that the field remained open to diverse worldviews and methods.
1.2 Renewal Since 2017
The year 2017 marked a new phase for the Federation with the election of a new Executive Board, new President, and the appointment of a new Director. Since then, WFSF has prioritized organizational renewal, programmatic expansion, professionalization, good governance, and financial stabilization. These steps were necessary to ensure the Federation’s continued vitality in a rapidly evolving global context.
2. Global Conferences and Gatherings
2.1 22nd World Conference (2017, Norway)
Hosted in Jondal, Norway, in collaboration with the Hardangar Academy for Peace, Development, and Environment, this conference set the tone for the Federation’s new era. The theme Humankind 2050: Peace, Development, Environment highlighted pressing planetary challenges and reasserted WFSF’s role as a convener of critical dialogue.
2.2 23rd World Conference (2019, Mexico City)
For the first time in its history, WFSF convened its World Conference in Latin America. The event, hosted at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), brought together diverse perspectives under the theme Uses of the Futures. It signaled the Federation’s commitment to strengthening the Global South in futures dialogues.
2.3 24th World Conference (2021, Berlin)
Despite the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Berlin conference successfully convened international scholars and practitioners under the theme The Openness of Futures. Hybrid modalities were introduced, increasing accessibility and global participation.
2.4 25th World Conference and 50th Anniversary (2023, Paris)
The golden jubilee was celebrated in Paris, the birthplace of WFSF. Under the theme Exploring Liminalities: Creating Spaces for Unlimited Futures, the conference commemorated fifty years of WFSF’s contributions while positioning the Federation as a forward-looking institution entering a new epoch.
2.5 26th World Conference (2025, Cape Town)
This conference in Africa represented another milestone for the Federation, consolidating the achievements of the past decade and setting new strategic directions under a new leadership team.
3. Engagement with the United Nations and UNESCO
3.1 UNESCO Partnership
The WFSF–UNESCO collaboration has deepened over decades. Between 2017 and 2025, WFSF supported futures literacy programs, facilitated futures studies courses in Africa, Asia, and Europe, and collaborated on publications. UNESCO’s recognition of futures literacy as a key 21st-century competency reinforced the Federation’s mission.
3.2 UN Consultative Role
As a Special Consultative Partner with ECOSOC since 1987, WFSF strengthened its role in shaping global governance. Contributions to the UN Summit of the Future (2024) and the Pact for the Future positioned WFSF as an authoritative voice on foresight, futures literacy, and global challenges.
3.3 ImPACT Coalitions and Advocacy
WFSF members actively participated in UN ImPACT coalitions on global governance, artificial intelligence, and digital futures. These engagements highlighted the Federation’s commitment to constructive advocacy and systemic reform, including proposals for a United Humanity Organization to replace zero-sum adversarial models of governance.
4. Expansion of Programs and Initiatives
4.1 Program Accreditation in Foresight Education
One of the most significant achievements of this period has been the establishment of a formal accreditation system for foresight education. Launched in 2018 and refined by 2025, the WFSF Program Accreditation process provides global standards for evaluating and recognizing futures studies curricula at universities. Institutions in the USA, Europe, and Asia have already received accreditation, raising the profile and quality of futures education worldwide.
4.2 Regional and Thematic Chapters
The period witnessed the expansion of WFSF regional chapters, including the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) Chapter (established with Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University, Saudi Arabia) and the revitalization of the Iberoamerican Chapter. These initiatives decentralized futures dialogues and fostered regional ownership of the Federation’s mission.
4.3 Research Funding Initiatives
Through collaborations such as the WFSF–PMU Research Fund, the Federation launched competitive research grants, supporting projects in sustainability, youth empowerment, AI, and climate change. These programs provided opportunities for young scholars and expanded the field’s applied research base.
5. Knowledge Dissemination and Publications
5.1 Magazine and Academic Journal
WFSF members continued to contribute to the Federation’s flagship magazine Human Futures and the peer reviewed European Journal of Futures Research, Journal Impact Factor rose from 0.6 to 3.7. These platforms showcased cutting-edge research, methodological innovation, and global perspectives.
5.2 Contributions to Global Reports
WFSF actively contributed to UN consultations, global futures reports, and transdisciplinary publications. These interventions amplified the Federation’s expertise in systemic change and planetary foresight and ethics.
6. Futures Literacy, Education, and Capacity-Building
WFSF emphasized training the next generation of futurists through workshops and online platforms. Collaborations with universities worldwide provided students with access to pluralistic futures methodologies. The Federation’s focus on youth engagement and foresight education aligns with its vision of long-term societal transformation.
7. Reflections on 2017–2025: Key Achievements
- Successful renewal of organizational leadership and direction.
- Hosting of major world conferences in Europe, Latin America, and Africa.
- Launch and consolidation of foresight accreditation standards.
- Expansion of regional and thematic chapters, notably in the MENA, China, and Iberoamerican regions.
- Strategic partnerships with UNESCO and ECOSOC.
- Active contributions to the UN Summit of the Future and global policy reforms.
- Research grants supporting innovation in futures studies.
- Commemoration of WFSF’s 50th anniversary in Paris (2023).
Conclusion
Between 2017 and 2025, the World Futures Studies Federation has strengthened its role as the peak global body for futures studies, advancing foresight as both an academic discipline and a societal practice. By combining organizational renewal with innovative programs, global partnerships, and academic credibility, WFSF has expanded the horizons of futures studies. Its emphasis on pluralism, inclusivity, and planetary responsibility positions the Federation as a cornerstone of the global futures mosaic. As humanity faces mounting existential challenges, the Federation continues to embody the transformative power of futures thinking, cultivating anticipation, resilience, and vision for generations to come.