Foresight for post-growth research: Integrating horizon scanning and scenario building for a sustainable future

Abstract

Post-growth research focuses on the possibilities of creating a flourishing human civilisation that respects planetary boundaries, following the concept of strong sustainability. As this endeavour aims to uncover interventions that lead to an unprecedented world, foresight is a crucial part of this scientific field. The post-normal times and metamodern thinking environment encourage the implementation of integrated foresight methodologies. This methodological study aims to showcase an integrated foresight process both to post-growth researchers and – due to its innovative approaches – to foresight experts. An organic connection between Horizon Scanning (HS) and Scenario Building (SB) was established, synergistically exploiting their advantages and applying them in a fully online environment. The paper aims not just to argue that this combination is suitable for pursuing out-of-the-box research like post-growth, but also to present this foresight process in sufficient detail, due to its innovative approaches, so that they can be reproduced in other research projects.