It is about some weeks that I'm working on a set of alternative futures on different aspects including information, economy, society, science, technology and etc. within a regional dimension. In some cases we may meet a situation that is called "TINA" or "There Is No Alternative".

This expression was originally coined in Margaret Thatcher's era, the former British prime minister. This is the mantra chanted by 'dries' during the prime ministerial reign of Margaret Thatcher, by which they demonstrated their belief that free-market capitalism was the only possible economic theory (future). It was said so often amongst them that it was shortened to TINA.

In the early nineties, Francis Fukuyama wrote a book named The End of History and the Last Man, which in a similar strain argued that liberal democracy had triumphed over communism and the historical struggle between political systems was over (though there could still be future events).

Susan George, a prominent critic of neoliberal globalization disagrees by saying "TATA" (There Are Thousands of Alternatives), which also refers to the main political slogan of the alter-globalization movement: "another world is possible".

In our futuristic terms, for some cases we may only draw a unique and inevitable. At first view, it seems logical that we can not consider more than one future for a matter, but naturally or philosophically this makes a kind of paradox against the very natural meaning of "alternative futures". How this contradiction can be explained in a theoretical basis? If we accept that there can be a natural possibility of alternative futures for every phenomenon, how is that in some cases we can conceive only a unique alternative and no more?

As you see, even many professionals love to impose their own TINA or TATA to their clients and audiences. How can we differentiate the true ones from the fake ones? Is there any reliable criteria in this regard? Above all, as the futurists we always love to consider TATA rather than TINA. Don't you think that this lovely paradigm may lead into an unwanted carelessness about real TINAs?

Your response and directions are highly welcomed at Futures Discovery and I hope to be entitled to the honor of your co-futuring.