I’m thoroughly enjoying the research into my dissertation on “Integrating Foresight into Organizations” with Jeff Gold and the good folks at Leeds Metropolitan University (well, most of the time at least :-) . The literature review has been fascinating. Just came across one of the many outstanding pieces by Sohail Inayatullah,  this one called “Tips and Pitfalls of the Futures Studies Trade” from Foresight, August 2000. It is full of good advice for aspiring as well as practical futurists. There is a statement in here that really struck me.

“But playing hard politics is not the solution; indeed, it is imperative that the futurist stays out of the politics of the present except in terms of helping clarify the implications of the politics being practised. He or she needs to play more the court jester than the aspiring king or queen.The role of the futurist is: long term pedagogy, finding solutions for current problems by challenging administrative structures and asking individuals to rethink not only how but why they do certain things. Getting bogged down in office politics jeopardizes this role.” (p. 373)
Anyone following my work over the years, which I’m carrying forward in the dissertation, knows I advocate an understanding of politics as paramount for the “organizational futurist.” I’m aware of the “court jester” role and that many advocate this. I identified a role of “insider-outside[r] in my five types of organizational futurists, in which the role was essentially to be an agent provocateur. So, I get it, and I think it is useful and necessary.
The question I am grappling with and would like to hear more on is whether we should say “either-or?”  Do we have to be jesters (outsiders)? Or can we be insiders that play at least “soft” politics, in that, I mean that the organizational futurist uses political thinking and approaches to advance the foresight cause — not to build an empire or become king or queen (hard politics). I believe a healthy foresight ecosystem has both. That said, I can imagine it causes confusion for clients. Have they hired an insider type using political acumen or an outsider jester type? As a field, I think we need to provide our clients some help along these lines. What say you? Andy Hines