Futurism in Policy Analysis
Michael Genovese's summer 1985 article, “Politics and Science Fiction Films,” is an excellent introduction to the broader topic of futurism and forecasting as methods of public policy analysis. These methods can be an interesting and challenging aspect of a graduate public administration course in public policy analysis.“The future does not simply happen. We create it. We can choose our future.” Accepting this assumption, I have integrated futures studies and forecasting into the Troy State University European Region graduate public administration course, “Policy and Decision Making in Government.” The course is a required component of a master's degree program offered under contract with the U.S. Air Force European Command. I have taught the course seven times, at bases in England, Turkey, Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands.