Webinar recap

In this webinar, we delved into the concept of Futures Thinking and its potential to revitalise civic engagement. The session began with an examination of the current state of democracy, highlighting the pervasive tensions and polarisation that characterise today’s political landscape. The discussion emphasised the critical need for imaginative approaches to address these challenges and foster democratic resilience.

Our panellist, Michelle Blanchet, shared insights from her experience and the PBS documentary A Brief History of the Future, illustrating how narrative and imagination can be powerful tools in civic education. Blanchet underscored the importance of envisioning both the desired and undesired futures to unify people and catalyse action.

A key theme was the power of imagination in shaping pathways for youth to engage in their communities meaningfully. Blanchet discussed the frustration she felt as a civics teacher, noting the limitations of traditional civic education, which often focuses narrowly on voting, running for office, or protesting. She advocated for a broader approach that includes creating a “North Star” vision, helping students understand the significance of their actions today for future outcomes.

Several innovative examples were highlighted during this webinar:

• Future Design in Japan: Tatsuyoshi Saijo’s approach involves local communities imagining their future in 2075 and planning actionable steps to achieve their long-term goals. This method fosters local, place-based action, demonstrating how community members can drive change from the ground up.
• Future Generations Commissioner in Wales: Sophie Howe’s role as the first Future Generations Commissioner encourages long-term thinking in policymaking. This initiative ensures that the needs of future generations are considered in current decisions, offering a model for other regions to follow.
• Deliberative Democracy: The session also touched on the concept of deliberative democracy, emphasising the creation of spaces for inclusive public discourse. This approach helps ensure that diverse voices are heard and that citizens feel represented in the decision-making process.

Blanchet’s initiative, Gamifying Civics with NECE, was showcased as a method to engage people, particularly youth, in civic topics through interactive and experiential learning. Games can foster essential skills like empathy, collaboration, and critical thinking, making them a valuable tool for civic education.

The session concluded with a call to action for educators, policymakers, and community leaders to support local catalysts and create opportunities for collective action.

Michelle Blanchet is the author of Preventing Polarization and launched an initiative – Gamifying Civics with NECE. She acts as a consultant for PBS Learning Media building resources around futures thinking, civic engagement, rewilding, and circular economies.