Dr. Linda Groff
POL 338/01--Fall 1996
California State University, Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA 90747 USA
GLOBAL PLANNING & THE FUTURE
Course Outline:
- Brief History of the Future Studies Field
- Range of Futurist Views and Perspectives
- Characteristics of a Futurist Perspective
- Time Periods for Studying the Future
- Holistic/Systems Views of Our Place in the Universe (as Systems within
Systems within Systems)
- Key Subjects Studied by Futurists
- Methodologies for Studying Change and the Future
- Steps in Designing an Alternative Future World
- Key Organizations Involved with the Study of the Future and Change
Required Reading:
- Linda Groff, Class Handouts on Intro. to Future Studies
- Two Articles on different Future Studies methodologies.
In Class Examination.
INTRODUCTION to PARTS II & III: Scarcity Versus the Potential for
Abundance: The Big Debate Within the Futures Movement
On the debate between the "Scarcity School" and the "Potential
for Abundance School" Concerning Our Global, National, & Personal
FuturesRequired Handout:
- Groff and Smoker, "The Great Debate: Scarcity versus the Potential
for Abundance."
PART II: SCARCITY SCHOOL VIEWS
Based Especially on the Interdependent Global "Megacrisis"
Issues of Global Climate, Population, Food, Energy, & Environment.
Required Reading:
- Class Handouts.
- Annual Editions, Global Issues, 1996/97, Relevant Chapters.
Recommended Reading:
- Meadows, Dennis, et. al., Limits To Growth. 1972. (pb)
- Meadows, Donella H.; Meadows, Dennis L.; and Randers, Jorgen. Beyond
the Limits: Confronting Global Collapse, Envisioning a Sustainable Future.
Post Mills, Vermont: Chelsea Green Publishing Co.,1992. (pb)
- Global 2000 Report To The President. 1980.
- Barney, Gerard O. Global 2000 Revisited. What Shall We Do? The Critical
Issues of the 21st Century. 1993.
- Brown, Lester, Annual State of the World Report. 1996 (or latest
annual edition). (pb)
In Class Examination.
PART III: POTENTIAL FOR ABUNDANCE SCHOOL VIEWS
Based on Various Factors, Including Technological Breakthroughs (including
the Information Revolution and Space Exploration), Societal Transformation,
and the Evolution of Human Potential and Consciousness.
Required or Recommended Reading:
- Class Handouts.
- Potential for Abundance from the Information Revolution:
- Alvin Toffler, The Third Wave.
- Potential for Abundance from Space: Earlier Arguments (Heppenheimer,
& von Puttkamer) and Current Situation:
- Tom Heppenheimer, Colonies In Space.
- Jacob von Puttkamer, "The Industrialization of Space: Transcending
the Limits to Growth," The Futurist, Vol. XII, No. 3 (June
1979).
- "Space: The Long-Range Future: An Interview with Jesco von Puttkamer,"
The Futurist (February 1985).
- Updates on the Space Program, including building a permanent space
station, and the possibilities of life elsewhere in the universe--including
on Mars (in our own solar system)!
- Potential for Abundance from Technology & a Design Science Revolution:
- R. Buckminster Fuller, Critical Path, and other writings.
- Potential for Abundance from an Evolution of Consciousness and the
Development of Human and Social Potentials:
- Barbara Marx Hubbard, The Evolutionary Journey.
- Marilyn Ferguson, The Aquarian Conspiracy.
- Jeanne Houston, The Possible Human.
- Depak Chopra, and numerous other writers on human potential, often
based on different spiritual and wisdom traditions from different cultures
around the world.
In Class Examination.
s
PART IV: RESEARCH PAPER & ORAL CLASS REPORT
On a Topic Relating to the Material Covered in the Class --particularly
topics relating to:
- global climate change;
- the global megacrisis issues (i.e., population; food; energy; and/or
environment);
- sustainable development;
- global economic trends, including privatization, and/or
- global political trends, including democratization (including the implications
of scarcity vs. abundance arguments)
- technology: appropriate or intermediate technologies vs. high technologies--including:
- information age technologies, i.e., computers, telecommunications,
& robotics
- now a whole new generation of information age technologies, including
the Internet, World Wide Web; multimedia, interactive computer technologies,
& virtual reality--with great implications for education, entertainment,
corporations, management, etc.);
- genetic engineering & recombinant DNA,
- space;
- nanotechnology
- the evolution of human potential and consciousness.
Group Research Papers must have both a futures and a global focus.
They must also cite and use both traditional library sources, as well as
online World Wide Web and Internet sources (which can also connect you
with national and global groups concerned about your topic). Format for
organizing papers will be given to each person, and online formats for
typing one's paper into Web Page format will be provided, so that one's
research results can be put up on the Web. Field work to groups in the
L.A. community involved with your topic are also encouraged as part of
the research for your group research papers.
SUMMARY OF COURSE ASSIGNMENTS:
PART I: In-class Exam
PART II: In-class Exam
PART III: In-class Exam
PART IV: Research Paper & Oral Class Report on your Research Paper.
(See above comments.)
CONTACT LINDA GROFF, VIA E-MAIL FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Also contact Co-Directors, Global Options, if you have important
information that you think should be added to this Home Page, or other
related Home Pages. Thank you.
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