The origins of foresight and its position in public sector policy making

Subject Areas : Futurology

Behzad Mashali ¹ , Hasan Sheybani ² , Ebrahim Hajiani ³ , Aliollah Ghanbari ⁴

1 - Associate Professor, University of Science and Culture
2 - Assistant Professor, University of Science and Culture
3 - Associate Professor, Center for Strategic Research of the Expediency Council
4 - Ph.D. candidate in Futures study, Institute of Humanities and Social Studies (Corresponding Author) [e-mail]

Received: 2017-08-16 Accepted : 2018-10-29 Published : 2019-01-21

Keywords: Public Sector, Foresight, Strategic planning, policy making,

Abstract :

The future is full of deep uncertainties and surprising events. This matter is more intense and more sensitive in public sector policies and programs that have a greater volume, impact, and complexity and have longer horizons. Therefore, policymakers and planners always try to make necessary anticipations in their decisions and actions to cope with uncertainties. For this reason, foresight, as a field that its historical origins, goes back to the post-World War II events, combines science and art as an emerging transdisciplinarity experience, and combines the fields of futures study, Strategic planning and policy development, can be used as an effective tool for government officials and policymakers for ​​robust planning, networking and making a commitment among stakeholders. Thus, the foresight is used inhancing the stability and success of policies. Foresight functions include Policy informing, Strategic policy counseling, and Policy facilitating. Furthermore, Foresight can be considered as an effective tool in international and global level issues as well, the experiences of countries and international organizations confirms this subject.