International Futures

Logo of IFs

International Futures (IFs) is a global integrated assessment model designed to help with thinking strategically and systematically about key global systems (economic, demographic, education, health, environment, technology, domestic governance, infrastructure, agriculture, energy and environment). It is housed at the Frederick S. Pardee Center for International Futures. Initially created by Barry B. Hughes of the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver in Colorado,[1] the model is free for public use in both its online and downloadable forms.[2]

The Pardee Center for International Futures has partnered with many organizations to produce forecasts and data analysis. IFs has been utilized in the National Intelligence Council's Global Trends 2020, Global Trends 2025, and Global Trends 2030 report.[3] The International Futures model has also contributed to the United Nations Human Development Report[4] and the Global Environmental Outlook.

IFs is hosted free for public use by Google Public Data Explorer, the Atlantic Council, and the Institute for Security Studies.[5]

  1. ^ Documentation can be found at http://www.ifs.du.edu regarding the history of IFs, specifically http://www.ifs.du.edu/ifs/IfsWebSite/IFs%20History.htm gives an overview of the different generations of IFs development. See this for a TEDx talk about the model: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=at47WLuA8Ks
  2. ^ Barry Hughes, and Evan Hillebrand Paradigm Publishing, 2006
  3. ^ See Mapping the Future: Report of the National Intelligence Council's 2020 Report. Archived 2012-09-16 at the Wayback Machine and Global Trends 2025: A Transformed World. Archived 2012-08-13 at the Wayback Machine and Global Trends 2030: Alternative Worlds. Archived 2012-12-15 at the Wayback Machine Director of National Intelligence
  4. ^ Forecasting the Impacts of Environmental Constraints on Human Development
  5. ^ For hosts of the web-based version of the model, see International Futures on Google Public Data Explorer, The Atlantic Council and the Strategic Foresight Initiative. Archived 2012-11-15 at the Wayback Machine, and the Institute for Security Studies, as a part of the African Futures Project. Additionally, the web version of the model is found on the International Futures website.