An online survey on Global Futures (available here) was launched last month to evaluate people’s general views. It resulted to 7 key findings in the first round (August 20^th 2011 to September 20^th 2011). The respondents’ choices of “Definitely Yes” or “Definitely No” were more than 90% in responding to 7 questions.

Meanwhile, an overview of survey’s questions reveals that most of the questions were related to economic and financial issues. Thematic quotas of questions I had in my survey can be defined (in percent) as: Economic: 36.66; Social: 23.30; Political: 20.00; Environmental: 16.66; Science & Technological: 3.33

Following diagram shows thematic quotas of questions in this survey:

 

Economic questions had the biggest quota and social, political, environmental and science and technological questions had smaller quotas respectively.

 

7 Key Findings with my Global Futures Survey that was conducted from August 20^th 2011 to September 20^th 2011 can be summarized as following:

1. Preserving the world's cultural diversity is an important issue.

In spite of all of debates and discussions on globalization or a world government and universal unification or regional unions, the respondents believe that the preservation of cultural diversity is necessary. Previously, Sohail Inayatullah and Jennifer Gidley (2000) had identified four factors affecting changes in today’s universities: globalism, multiculturalism, virtualization, and politicization.  

2. They feel a moral responsibility to help the less fortunate.

The respondents thought they should help the less fortunate people. However, this should be examined in real world and actual situations. According to Ted Fuller and Krista Loogma (2008), part of the intellectual and social legitimacy of foresight arises from the acceptance of human agency and moral responsibility, which imply an interpretative and reflexive stance with regard to knowledge.

3. Raising the status of women around the globe is important.

People usually fell that they should respect women and do everything they could for their welfare. According to Glenn’s report of State of the Future (2011), Women account for over 40% of the world’s workforce but earn less than 25% of the wages; however, they control over 70% of global consumer spending. Half the university students in the world are women, and in many countries they outnumber men. However, about 2.5 million people from 127 different countries are being trafficked around the world, out of which approximately 70% are women and girls.

4. The market mechanism cannot solve almost all of our global problems.

Most of the respondents believed that there is no way to address global problems by the market mechanism. Given the deterioration of markets in recent years such a response seems logical. However, it does not mean that new markets have no chance to appear in the coming years.

5. Technological innovations will solve our food and energy problems.

There is a hope for technological innovations in the respondents’ eyes. According to Glenn (2011), Nano-technology-based products have grown by 25% in the last year to more than 800 items today for medical, energetic and other applications.

6. The rich countries have a moral responsibility to help the poor countries.

This finding is somehow similar to second finding. People usually state their personal or social interest in helping the less fortunate or poor countries. Everyone is generous! But what is going now in Somalia is a real catastrophe and historical shame for all who live on this planet (including me). Most economies are growing but with little increase in employment. Unemployment is a global problem (Glenn, 2011). The number of refugees seeking for asylum in other countries increases day by day. There is no balance between the people’s income and costs in many countries.   

7. Pollution is not only a local problem, but a global problem.

The respondents paid considerable attention to global environment and pollution. It seems that they feel the sensitivity of global pollution better than ever, given the recent disasters such as Japan’s recent earthquake and leaking of nuclear reactors. The State of Future 2010 report shows that CO₂ emission is a global problem and also a source of unwanted climate changes. Global surface temperature anomalies will continue at least within next decade. Fossil fuel energy consumption that is a source of pollution has not reduced significantly in recent years in spite of advances made in renewable energy technologies. Forest areas are shrinking and many countries pursue their nuclear energy plans in spite of probable environmental dangers.

          My total evaluation is that we are living in a paradoxical world in which global systems and powers should be redefined for the good of all nations. According to Glenn (2011): “we need very hardheaded idealists who can look into the worst and best of humanity and can create and implement strategies of success.”       

References:

Fuller, Ted & Krista Loogma (2008). Constructing futures: A social constructionist perspective on foresight methodology, Futures, doi:10.1016/j.futures.2008.07.039.

Glenn, Jerome C. (2011). Global Situation and Prospects for the Future, in WFS 2011 conference volume: Moving from Vision to Action, Bethesda, MD: World Future Society, 3-18.

Glenn, Jerome C. & Theodor J. Gordon (2010). Annual State of the Future reports for the Millennium Project, Washington, DC.

Inayatullah, Sohail &  Jennifer Gidley (2000). The university in transformation. Westport, CT: Bergin & Garvey.