‘We need a strong movement of the imagination in which not only a few experts, but all interested parties, including ordinary citizens should be involved…. Only those who in this way invent the future in advance can hope to influence it effectively’ (Jungk, 1988)
Futures workshop is an effective participatory research method and model that supports inclusion, equity and empowerment of people and researchers. It was developed in the 1960s by Robert Jungk and Norbert Mullert to support community democratic dialogue. Jungk & Mullert’s original motivation to develop this method aligned with ENHANCE’s objectives. Their overall objective was to enrich democracy and promote the revival of interest in the community to help people develop ideas and projects for a better society (Jungk & Muller, 1987). Jungk ensured the continuation of future workshops through his ongoing work as one of the first Futurologists.
Jungk’s approach to supporting citizens’ participation in shaping alternative futures was divided into four phases: preparation, critique, fantasy, and implementation. He believed that authentic or democratic participation could best happen where the facilitator prepared the groundwork so that the group could comprehensively explore their problem from multiple perspectives and only then begin to co-construct a better alternative future. Jungk’s model also created a space for the group to take their ideal futures and harness their energy to bring about change within their communities.
Robert Jungk detailed the motivation behind his focus on the future and the rationale behind developing the Futures Workshop – which is as relevant today as it was over 50 years ago.
‘I should first explain how I came to be interested in starting this democratic institution, the future workshop. I was a victim of Hitler’s regime, leaving Germany in ‘33. I felt powerless about the holocaust, although I was one of the first to know about it. Living as a refugee in Switzerland during the war, I tried to persuade foreign correspondents to write about it, but they did not believe me that people were being murdered in their thousands- at the time, I did not know it was millions – they thought it was a propaganda lie. This gave me a feeling of powerlessness. Ever since then, I have looked for ways that people can fight back and influence the course of events, The future workshop is such a way. It helps people to develop creative ideas and projects for a better society. For trying to resist something is just part of the story. It is essential for people to know what they are fighting for, not just what they are fighting against’ ( Jungk & Mullert, 1986, p5)