In the second episode of this two part series on transformative politics, futures, and hope, we turn to the question of what comes next (listen to part one here). If the future is not predetermined, how can it be shaped, and by whom? The conversation explores the idea that the future is fundamentally open, while acknowledging the constraints posed by climate change, technological developments, and shifting geopolitical dynamics. What does it mean to act under uncertainty, and how can political imagination be sustained in times of crisis?
Sirkka Heinonen emphasises futures literacy, collective visioning, and the distinction between possible, probable, and preferable futures. She highlights the need to imagine alternatives and develop forms of anticipatory governance. Thomas Wallgren reflects on the ethical and political dimensions of uncertainty, questioning dominant narratives around technological progress and emphasising responsibility, agency, and the power of truth. The discussion engages with the limits of current political frameworks and how we understand expertise and collective action.
The episode brings together philosopher and political thinker Professor Thomas Wallgren (University of Helsinki) and Professor Emerita of Futures Research Sirkka Heinonen (University of Turku).
Thomas Wallgren’s work focuses on democracy, transformative politics, and the structural conditions shaping political possibility. He has been closely involved with the World Social Forum and has written extensively on its significance, limitations, and the evolving nature of global political movements.
Sirkka Heinonen is a leading scholar in futures research whose work explores foresight, anticipatory governance, and the role of imagination in shaping societal trajectories. Her research emphasises how engaging with multiple possible futures can itself be a democratic and transformative practice.
Suggested reading:
Host: Astrid Aminoff
The Visions of a Better World podcast is available on RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and our website.
Listen to the first part of the conversation: Was “Another World Possible”? 1990s Optimism and the Fate of Transformative Politics
