Futures thinking and foresight refer to an ecosystem of approaches, methods, tools, practices, and processes aimed at creating a space to imagine the factors and forces shaping the future. In peacemaking praxis, these methodologies can enable participatory analysis of key issues and beliefs among conflict stakeholders, as well as the joint creation of alternative futures. The envisioned futures function as shared and desirable scenarios that provide the foundation for detailed discussions on concrete actions and policy roadmaps. Other methods focus away from the immediacy of the conflict and enable consideration of plausible (not just preferred or desired) futures, taking into account other dynamics and longer-term trends such as economic or demographic shifts.

CMI has a long history of using futures and foresight methodologies to support peacemaking praxis, and Conciliation Resources (CR) likewise demonstrated in a 2022 briefing paper how futures thinking has and may been used in conflict-affected contexts. In this informal roundtable discussion, Dr John Sweeney (WIU), Johanna Poutanen (CMI), Dr Rachel Clogg (CR) and Sally Holt (CR) will share insights on some of the following issues:

• What are futures thinking and foresight, and how can related methodologies add value to peacemaking praxis, particularly for dialogue and mediation?
• What are the limitations of these methodologies, and what are some of the lessons learned in applying them to peacemaking?
• In what ways can digital technologies support the implementation of these methodologies in peacemaking?