Social futuring – An analytical conceptual framework

Abstract

In this paper we attempt to define the concept of social futuring and classify it using multiple dimensions. Starting out with a minimal definition of the notion, we elaborate on the ideal-typical definition of social futuring based on the concepts of necessary and sufficient conditions. Thereafter, classifications of the different forms and types of social futuring are developed according to various features. A complex network of concepts is constructed to make the ambiguous notion more precise and to operationalize it with a view to the construction of a Social Futuring Index. We close our study in the hope that we have managed to illuminate and clarify the multi-layered concept of social futuring by creating an analytical framework which is in synergy with the normative foundations of the research.