Governing Policy Processes and Foresight: Potential Contributions and Inherent Tensions

Abstract

The increasing number of foresight programmes suggests that foresight can be a useful policy tool in rather different national innovation systems. This paper is aimed at discussing the potential and actual role of foresight in governing policy processes.

First the theoretical underpinnings of this analysis is summarised briefly. Then the rationale of conducting foresight is presented: what policy challenges can be tackled by applying foresight? It is followed by a discussion of a new typology of foresight programmes, distinguishing the ones with an S&T, techno-economic or societal/ socio-economic focus. The concluding section summarises the major lessons, and also presents some policy and methodological dilemmas.

Keywords: Locating foresight among other prospective tools, Rationales for conducting foresight, Typology of foresight programmes

JEL Classification: O38