Paper short abstract:

STS could help futures thinking to re-align imagination and intervention while recognizing the complexity of social systems. In particular STS could underpin a better understanding of the performativity of “the future” and the durability of socio-technical configurations.

Paper long abstract:

The contribution explores the possible place of STS in re-making 'the future of the future' from the perspective of the futures field. We argue that STS involvement is urgently required for enabling a deeper understanding of societal change and counteracting prevailing techno-deterministic paradigms. Moreover, STS perspectives may help to provide a much needed epistemological and ontological basis to futures work. In spite of constant assurances to the contrary, the field is still dominated by a prognostic notion of "the future". Even though most futurists recognise the complexity of social systems and reject the possibility of linear top-down interventions, there is a notable absence of alternative relationships between imaging and intervening. Increasingly, futurists focus on strengthening the "resilience" of social systems without claiming to underpin desirable trajectories. In contrast we do see inroads for futures-intervention. One is to address the performativity of the future i.e. the influence of future images on the ability to harness the potential of the present - a subject where STS research on expectations and promises has a lot to contribute. Secondly, we feel that with all the focus on change and disruption, the stability of power-laden socio-technical configurations, often emphasised by STS scholars, is largely neglected in futures work. We would like to discuss whether - with support from STS - futures work may be able to help "de-colonising" the future. Our hope is that - just like in jazz improvisation - the deeper the understanding of rigorous frameworks, the greater the freedom for venturing into the unknown.