Democratising futures is about practical actions and choices

The power to define futures is a form of influence that determines which visions of the future we see as possible or desirable. Our ideas about the future are never insignificant – they shape the choices we make today. And those choices, in turn, influence the ultimately emerging future.

We live in a time of profound transitions, marked by surprises and discontinuities. The ecological sustainability shift, the crisis of democracy, technological disruption and other forces that shape the future challenge us to rethink and renew. One thing is clear: things will not remain as they are now. But what kind of future do we want to build – and who defines it? Whose voices are heard in the conversations about futures? From whose perspective is the future viewed? And whose perspectives or voices are missing?

At Sitra, we have been actively addressing these questions in recent years, developing and testing ways to democratise futures together with our partners.

Why is democratising futures important?

The future belongs to all of us, which is why everyone should have the opportunity to take part in the societal conversation about it. Yet, the power to define futures is not evenly distributed. Some voices are heard more clearly than others, and some are more readily listened to.

The power to define futures is shaped by the power structures of society. People who struggle to make their voices heard in public debate and decision-making are often sidelined in conversations about the future as well. That is why discussions about the future and foresight processes must pay special attention to inclusion and actively seek ways to democratise futures.

Democratising futures becomes especially important in times of crises and disruptions – the moments when new directions and diverse voices are needed to decide what kind of future we want to build together. Expanding the power to define futures enables us to create the best possible futures for as many people as possible.

Emphasising inclusion in foresight is not new, but recent years have brought growing attention to the diversity of participants and perspectives – and to the role inclusion plays in strengthening democracy and driving societal change. Joining a discussion about the future can be an empowering experience, it can deepen a sense of belonging and encourage action toward desirable futures. In this way, participation in discussions about the future also lays the groundwork for strengthening democracy.

From a perspective of a foresight practitioner, it is also about the quality of futures work. Futurist Krizna Gomez has noted (2022) that diversity of perspectives and participants is the cornerstone of credible, high-quality foresight. According to Gomez, futures are too important to be left in the hands of just a few people – who may not be competent at anticipating change. A broad and diverse group of participants makes it easier to spot surprises and emerging phenomena.

By democratising futures, we can challenge assumptions and discover new possibilities

Too often, we adopt ideas about the future from outside ourselves without questioning them. We become socialised into visions of what futures should look like and which futures we, too, should strive for.

Typical images of the future are easy to find online. Try it yourself: what do future cities or homes look like? What kind of results do search engines offer and how diverse are they? The images may seem familiar, but are these the futures we truly want? And where did these visions come from?

Democratising futures is not only a way to include people from different groups in shaping the future – it also about challenging assumptions and uncovering new futures worth striving for. What would desirable futures look like to children after the sustainability transition? What kinds of homes or cities do people with disabilities dream of? What would be a good society for senior citizens? And how might democracy look and feel like, if young people had the power to decide?

Democratising futures can also mean considering future generations and the futures of other species. There are ways to bring these perspectives into the conversation as well.

How can we democratise futures in practice?

Together with our partners, we at Sitra have explored what democratising futures could look like in practice. In recent years, we have funded several projects aiming at democratising futures in different contexts: daycare centres and schools, municipalities and wellbeing services counties, associations and businesses. These projects have brought all kinds of people to futures discussions and activities, including children, immigrants, mental health rehabilitees and others in vulnerable positions.

One key lesson from these projects is that there are many ways to democratise futures. Methods can be adapted, and it is possible to find approaches that enable different groups to join the discussion about the future – whether they are children, members of minorities or people in vulnerable positions.

Democratising futures can mean, for example:

• Inviting new actors to join discussions about the future and foresight work.
• Amplifying voices and perspectives that have been overlooked.
• Strengthening people’s ability to think about futures and express their views in ways that suit them.
• Using creative methods to include perspectives from those who cannot directly participate in discussions about the future.

The choices depend on the context and the need.

Ethical principles enhance democratising futures

In work aimed at democratising futures, the ultimate responsibility lies with the facilitator whose choices can significantly shape how things are implemented in practice.

Together with our partners, we compiled lessons from the experiments into a set of Ethical Principles for Democratising Futures. These principles can be used to guide planning and evaluation of activities.

Summary of ethical principles

Equality: Ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to participate and be heard in discussions about the future. Identify and remove barriers to participation and use methods that support inclusive interaction. Consider participants’ specific needs and, where possible, design the process together with them.

Trust: Create an open and safe environment for discussions about futures, where views can be shared without fear of judgment. Act transparently, value every contribution and show that participants’ perspectives matter by explaining how they will be used.

Plurality: Invite participants from diverse backgrounds and viewpoints. Avoid assumptions about people’s opinions – let them speak for themselves. Make space for different perspectives without reinforcing polarisation. Choose methods that enable constructive, multi-voiced dialogue.

Boldness: Foster a safe atmosphere where everyone feels confident to share their visions of the future. Encourage participants to question their own assumptions and those embedded in society, and to imagine bold alternatives. Use playfulness, humour and creativity to spark courage.

Emotions: Recognise that futures work can evoke emotions: joy, excitement, fear or concern. Allow space to process feelings and discuss them with others. Support positive, respectful interaction and strengthen empathy among participants.

The Absent: Identify those affected by the future but unable to represent themselves in the discussion. Make them visible to others and explore ways to include their perspectives – using creative approaches and acknowledging the limits of available information.

Democratising futures is needed everywhere – including in decision-making

Democratising futures is needed across society: in public administration, workplaces, associations, and businesses. By enabling more pluralistic discussions about the future, we can build futures on the foundations of democracy. At the same time, we can better prepare for diverse futures and understand them from multiple perspectives.

Democratising futures is especially critical where decisions are made, and that is why we at Sitra have emphasised this perspective in our recent work. Decisions do not emerge in a vacuum; they are shaped by assumptions and mental images of the future. If those images are narrow, the solutions will be equally one-sided. Democratising futures means ensuring that decision-making takes diverse perspectives into account and creates space for dialogue about the futures we want to build.

By democratising futures, we can also support long-term, anticipatory decision-making. Participatory discussion about the future in decision-making contexts can enable decisions that span across parliamentary terms and help assess the future impacts of policies. It can also improve the legitimacy of decisions that are perceived as difficult or complex, such as those related to the sustainability transition.

Projects funded by Sitra have shown that democratising futures in decision-making is not easy, however it is possible. Traditional practices and mindsets are often deeply entrenched, making change challenging. Another hurdle is ensuring that participation does not become tokenistic, but diverse perspectives on the future are genuinely considered. For this to work, decision-making must embrace the willingness and readiness to use futures knowledge and adopt new practices.

Together, we can build futures that are as good as possible, for as many as possible.