An organization of some 300 individuals and 20 institutions around the world whose mission is to promote futures education and research. The WFSF is a global network of practicing futurists - researchers, teachers, scholars, policy analysts, activists and others from over 60 countries - established in 1967.
The WFSF is a forum where the stimulation, exchange, and examination of ideas, visions, and plans for alternative, long-term futures can take place. The Federation promotes and encourages futures studies as well as innovative interdisciplinary analysis and critique by:
- Promoting a higher level of futures consciousness in general
- Stimulating cooperative research activities in all fields of futures studies
- Planning and holding regional and global futures studies conferences and courses
- Encouraging the democratization of future-oriented thinking and acting
- Stimulating awareness of the urgent need for futures studies in governments and international organizations, as well as other decision making and educational groups and institutions, to resolve problems at local, national, regional, and global levels.
- Assisting local and global futures research activities; encouraging responsibility for future generations.
The WFSF seeks to assure complete freedom of activity and discussion among its members and within the Federation. To achieve this goal, the Federation seeks close cooperation with educational, scientific, cultural, artistic, and other institutions, associations, and organizations in all fields of futures studies, especially within the United Nations family.
“WFSF founders’ aim was to develop and promote futures studies, in all its forms and richness, all over the world, in a spirit of intercultural and educational dialogue. This is still our goal. Today, more than ever, we need to understand the world and its evolutions in order to build a better future. More than ever, we need to create visions of hopeful and highly positive futures. The WFSF carries huge responsibility of fostering and strengthening the international community of futurists for the benefit of all current and future stakeholders and decision-makers.“
- Fabienne GOUX-BAUDIMENT WFSF President (2005-2009)
