FARSIGHT

Political philosopher turned futurist, Bertrand de Jouvenel is one of the foundational figures in futures studies. His life and thought were deeply shaped by the defining upheavals of the 20th century — the rise of fascism, the catastrophe of World War II, and the titanic ideological struggle of the Cold War.
Subscribe to FARSIGHT by becoming a⁠ Futures Member⁠ at the Institute.
Hosts: Casper Skovgaard Petersen & August Leo Liljenberg
Assistant producer: Tallulah Richards
Sources
Daniel Knegt: Fascism, Liberalism and Europeanism in the Political Thought of Bertrand de Jouvenel and Alfred Fabre-Luce
Jasper Verschoor: "More than Planners, Less than Utopians:" 1960s Futurism and Post-Industrial Theory
Daniel Rosenberg: Taming the Minotaur: Bertrand de Jouvenel on Liberty and Authority
Brian C. Anderson: Bertrand de Jouvenel's Melancholy Liberalism
Bertrand de Jouvenel: On Power
Bertrand de Jouvenel: The Art of Conjecture
Published by the ⁠Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies

Trains and rail once symbolised progress and modernity in Europe. Today, they have more-so come to represent ideas of social equity and public good – an unassuming but universally accessible means of transport. Could rail reclaim its lost significance and prestige – and if so, what would it take?
Subscribe to FARSIGHT by becoming a Futures Member at the Institute.
Author: Casper Skovgaard Petersen
Narration: Manya Lind (with ElevenLabs AI)
Published by the Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies

Since its invention in the sixteenth century, the idea of 'Utopia' has carried an inherent ambiguity. Suspended between reality and fiction, the emancipatory and the fatal, two conflicting meanings have clung to the word for centuries and continue to do so today, as visions of utopia are making a comeback among tech billionaires and Saudi Arabian royalty alike.
Subscribe to FARSIGHT by becoming a Futures Member at the Institute.
Author: Mads Vindaal
Narration: August Leo Liljenberg (with ElevenLabs AI)
Published by the Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies

Kahn the genius, Kahn the futurist, Kahn the psychopath. The FARSIGHT hosts take a closer look at the life and legacy of one of the 20th century’s most influential futurists and public intellectuals.
Subscribe to FARSIGHT by becoming a Futures Member at the Institute.
Hosts: Casper Skovgaard Petersen & August Leo Liljenberg
Sources
Alex Abella: Soldiers of Reason: The RAND Corporation and the Rise of the American Empire
Sharon Ghamari-Tabrizi: The Worlds of Herman Kahn: The Intuitive Science of Thermonuclear War
Paul Dragos Aligica: “The challenge of the future and the institutionalization of interdisciplinarity: notes on Herman Kahn’s legacy”
Herman Kahn: On Thermonuclear War
Herman Kahn: The Year 2000
Neil Pickett: A History of Hudson Institute
Published by the Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies

When confronted with the great crises of our time, a sense of hope about the future can seem naïve at best, or even counterproductive if it leads to complacency.
Yet thinkers across psychology, behavioural science, and philosophy recognise hope as an essential driver of social and societal change. Far from being a passive sentiment, hope paired with purposeful action enables humans to imagine alternative futures and work their way through tough times.
Subscribe to FARSIGHT by becoming a Futures Member at the Institute.
Author: Lisa Di Giulio
Narration: Manya Lind (with ElevenLabs AI)
Published by the Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies