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A Framework For The Study Of Unwanted Futures: Routledge New Security Studies

Will Ward

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Published in Translations Of Security: A Framework For The Study Of Unwanted Futures (Routledge New Security Studies)

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The future is uncertain. This is a truism that we all know, but it is one that we often forget. We tend to think about the future as if it were a known quantity, something that we can predict and control. But the truth is, the future is unknowable. We can make educated guesses about what might happen, but we can never be sure.

This uncertainty about the future is a source of both anxiety and hope. It is anxiety-provoking because it means that we can never be sure what will happen to us or to our loved ones. It is hopeful because it means that anything is possible. The future is a blank slate, and we have the power to shape it.

But what happens when we imagine a future that we do not want? What happens when we envision a world that is full of pain, suffering, and injustice? These are the kinds of futures that we call "unwanted futures."

Translations of Security: A Framework for the Study of Unwanted Futures (Routledge New Security Studies)

by Scott Mactavish

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1507 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	241 pages

Unwanted futures are not simply the opposite of desirable futures. They are not simply futures that we would rather avoid. Unwanted futures are futures that we believe are impossible or undesirable. They are futures that we fear.

The study of unwanted futures is a relatively new field of research. But it is a field that is growing rapidly, as people become increasingly aware of the risks and uncertainties that we face in the 21st century.

This article presents a framework for the study of unwanted futures. The framework is based on the idea that futures are not simply predictable outcomes of present actions, but are also shaped by the ways in which we think about and imagine the future. The framework identifies three key dimensions of unwanted futures: their desirability, their likelihood, and their evitability. It also discusses the role of power in shaping unwanted futures, and the importance of considering the ethical implications of our actions when thinking about the future.

The three dimensions of unwanted futures are:

Desirability: How desirable is the future?
Likelihood: How likely is the future to occur?
Evitability: How easy is it to avoid the future?

These three dimensions are interrelated. For example, a future that is highly desirable but unlikely to occur is less of a concern than a future that is both highly desirable and likely to occur. Similarly, a future that is highly undesirable but easy to avoid is less of a concern than a future that is both highly undesirable and difficult to avoid.

The three dimensions of unwanted futures can be used to create a matrix of unwanted futures. The matrix can be used to identify and prioritize unwanted futures, and to develop strategies for avoiding or mitigating them.

Power is a key factor in shaping unwanted futures. Power can be used to create or prevent unwanted futures, and it can also be used to shape the way that we think about and imagine the future.

For example, powerful actors can use their power to create unwanted futures for others. They can do this by creating policies that lead to negative outcomes, or by preventing others from taking actions that would lead to positive outcomes.

Powerful actors can also use their power to shape the way that we think about and imagine the future. They can do this by controlling the flow of information, or by creating narratives that promote certain visions of the future.

It is important to be aware of the role that power plays in shaping unwanted futures. This awareness can help us to identify and challenge the ways in which power is used to create or prevent unwanted futures.

Thinking about the future is a morally complex activity. When we think about the future, we are making choices about what kind of world we want to live in. These choices have ethical implications, and it is important to be aware of them.

For example, when we imagine a future that is full of pain and suffering, we are making a choice to focus on the negative aspects of life. This choice can lead to a pessimistic outlook on life, and it can make it difficult to find hope in the present.

Conversely, when we imagine a future that is full of joy and happiness, we are making a choice to focus on the positive aspects of life. This choice can lead to an optimistic outlook on life, and it can make it easier to find hope in the present.

The ethical implications of thinking about the future are complex and multifaceted. But it is important to be aware of these implications, and to make choices about the future that are consistent with our values.

The study of unwanted futures is a new and growing field of research. This article has presented a framework for the study of unwanted futures, and has discussed the role of power and ethics in shaping unwanted futures.

The study of unwanted futures is important because it can help us to identify and avoid futures that we do not want. It can also help us to make choices about the future that are consistent with our values.

We cannot predict the future, but we can shape it. By studying unwanted futures, we can increase our chances of creating a future that we want.

Translations of Security: A Framework for the Study of Unwanted Futures (Routledge New Security Studies)

by Scott Mactavish

4.4 out of 5