Datum: 11 februari 2026
Tid: 10:00-11:45
Venue: Institute for Futures Studies, Holländargatan 13 in Stockholm or online
Research seminar with Laura Pantzerhielm, Senior Lecturer in Political Science at Mälardalen University and Affiliated Researcher at the Institute for Futures Studies.
An International Relations scholar with a keen interest in social theory, critical approaches and interpretative methods, her research centres on knowledge and power relations in international institutions. Laura received her doctorate in Political Science from Freie Universität Berlin. She has held visiting and faculty positions at WZB Berlin Social Science Centre, Technical University of Dresden, London School of Economics, the University of Sydney and the Graduate Institute Geneva.
Abstract
Amidst a deepening sense of uncertainty and polycrisis, how do political actors on the world stage relate to the future? Today, speculative foresight methodologies that enable organizations to envision multiple possible futures beyond the extrapolation of current trends are gaining traction across global policy fields. Rather than seeking to render the future less uncertain, more calculable or manageable, this kind of future-oriented expertise promises to approach the inherent unknowability of the future with ease and competence.
In this talk, I will explore the contemporary politics and historical origins of speculative foresight in global politics from a sociology of knowledge perspective. I will present findings from my ongoing research project “Futuring World Politics” (Swedish Research Council, 2025-2028) and the forthcoming study ‘Unknowing the Future: Speculative Foresight in International Institutions and the Unexpected ‘Origins’ of Expertise’ (Review of International Studies). The presentation will conclude with a few broader reflections on (non-)knowledge and future-oriented expertise in global politics.
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