This illuminating book combines theory and practice to analyse the experiences and impacts of foresight activities in various European countries. It includes case studies with a focus on different societal issues including national development, science and technology, and sustainable development. The contributors expertly describe and analyse foresight projects carried out in countries at various stages of economic development including mature market economies, transition economies and young democracies. The theoretical chapters on stakeholder participation, negotiation and dialogue, learning, and visioning are useful in the planning and analyses of foresight activities. The case study chapters explicitly demonstrate how the societal context can influence the planning and impact of foresight policy. Scholars of foresight and technology assessment will find plenty of information in this invaluable book. It will also prove essential for Masters courses on foresight or future studies, and public policy courses with a focus on future policy and planning
Contents: PART I: INTRODUCTION 1. The Role of Interaction in Foresight Kristian Borch PART II: THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONS 2. Interactions Between Foresight and Decision-Making Peter De Smedt 3. Stakeholder Participation and Dialogue in Foresight Ozcan Saritas, Lisa A. Pace and Serge I.P. Stalpers 4. Learning Theory in Foresight Tamas Kristof 5. Dialogue in Foresight: Consensus, Conflict and Negotiation Kristian Borch and Fredesvinda Merida 6. Dialogue as a Tool of Foresight with Insights on the Dialogue of Cultures and Civilizations Linda Groff 7. Visions and Visioning in Foresight Activities Michael Sogaard Jorgensen 8. The Dissemination and Implementations of Results of Forecast Activities Sandra M. Dingli PART III: CASE STUDIES 9. Dialogues in the COOL Project Serge Stalpers and Carolien Kroeze 10. The Analysis of the UK Technology Foresight from the Dialogue, Vision and Dissemination Perspectives Ozcan Saritas 11. Dialogues on Air Pollution: An Asian Example Carolien Kroeze and Serge Stalpers 12. Hungarian Educational Foresight: 'Vocational Training and Future' Eva Hideg, Erzsebet Novaky and Tamas Kristof 13. Foresight as a Tool of Policy Formulation: The Slovak Foresight Exercise Edita Nemcova 14. CASE DENMARK: Green Technology Foresight, Phase 1 Michael Sogaard Jorgensen 15. The Danish Technology Foresight on Environmentally Friendly Agriculture Kristian Borch 16. Strategic Planning for the Future: Malta's eFORESEE Experience Lisa A. Pace 17. Futur - the Research Dialogue in Germany Edgar Goll 18. Analysis of the Foresight Components of the Portuguese Economic and Social Development Plan 2000-2006 (PNDES 2000 - 2006) Antonio Alvarenga PART IV: CROSS CUTTING CONCLUSION 19. Foresight as Governance of Science, Technology and Society: Cross Cutting Conclusions Michael Sogaard Jorgensen