Beyond the Precipice - AMID Waves of Change: Strategic Scouts Explore the Future

摘要

Americans stand at the precipice of unprecedented change and challenge. The Internet with all of its enabling technologies is literally transforming reality-driving changes in all aspects of modern society: business, governance, militaries, interpersonal rituals, time, distance, privacy, and expectations. While the Information Age is certainly about the invasiveness and speed of mind-boggling information technologies; it is also about much more. It now seems clear that the Information Age is commanding pervasive and uncontrollable changes that will continue to test America's leaders, institutions, and national ideology. This study uncovers the key seeds of societal change, reveals future points of contention, and translates these changes into recommendations for civilian and military leaders. There are other deliverables throughout-tangible and intangible-that will help civilian and military leaders think anew about waves of change in the world. Predictions are not the goal of this endless research project, nor is it about defending answers about the future, although it does a little of both. Its primary contribution lies in the applied methodology and holistic approach. By applying new science theory to the original futures work of the United States Special Operations Command's Future Concepts Working Group, this research breaks new ground.