Causal layered analysis (CLA) is a technique used in strategic planning,

futures studies Futures studies, futures research, futurism or futurology is the systematic, interdisciplinary and holistic study of social and technological advancement, and other environmental trends, often for the purpose of exploring how people will l ...

and foresight to more effectively shape the future. The technique was pioneered by

Sohail Inayatullah Sohail Inayatullah is a Pakistani-born Australian academic, futures studies researcher and a professor at the Graduate Institute of Futures Studies at Tamkang University in Taipei, Taiwan. Biography Born in 1958 in Lahore, Pakistan, to a fath ...

, a

Pakistani-Australian Pakistani Australians are Australians who are of Pakistani descent or heritage. Most Pakistani Australians are Muslims by religion, although there are also sizeable Christian, Hindu and other minorities. History in Australia An anthropological ...

researcher.

Theory

Causal layered analysis works by identifying many different levels, and attempting to make synchronized changes at all levels to create a coherent new future. Inayatullah's original paper as well as his

TEDx TED Conferences, LLC (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is an American-Canadian non-profit media organization that posts international talks online for free distribution under the slogan "ideas worth spreading". TED was founded by Richard Sau ...

talk identify four levels: # The litany: This includes quantitative trends, often exaggerated and used for political purposes. The result could be a feeling of apathy, helplessness, or projected action. Inayatullah calls this "the conventional level of futures research which can readily create a politics of fear." # Social causes, including economic, cultural, political, and historical factors. # Structure and the discourse that legitimizes and supports the structure. # Metaphor and myth

History of research

CLA was first introduced explicitly as a futures research technique by Sohail Inayatullah in a 1998 article for ''

Futures Futures may mean: Finance *Futures contract, a tradable financial derivatives contract *Futures exchange, a financial market where futures contracts are traded * ''Futures'' (magazine), an American finance magazine Music * ''Futures'' (album), a ...

'' that would come to be widely cited. Later, Inayatullah would edit the CLA Reader, that featured chapters from a number of futurists and practitioners describing their experience with CLA. Inayatullah's work on CLA was examined in a book by Jose W. Ramos in 2003. A 2008 article by Chris Riedy examined the similarities, differences, and possible combinations of CLA and

Ken Wilber Kenneth Earl Wilber II (born January 31, 1949) is an American philosopher and writer on transpersonal psychology and his own integral theory, a philosophy which suggests the synthesis of all human knowledge and experience. Life and career Wilbe ...

's integral theory. A 2010 article by Gary P. Hampson explored the relationship between integral futures and CLA further, and also considered

Richard Slaughter Richard Slaughter is a scholar and writer in the field of futures studies, applied foresight and social innovation. He is the co-director of Foresight International, and has guest edited the journals ''Futures'' and '' foresight''. His work ha ...

's critique of CLA. Sohail Inayatullah and Ivana Milojevic have published an update in 2015. With various authors, they investigate topics such as: * The Global Financial Crisis * Terrorism futures * Global governance * Ageing and the changing workforce * Educational and university futures * Climate change * Water futures in the Muslim world * The alternative futures of China * Agricultural policy in Australia * The new national narrative in Singapore

References

{{reflist Futures techniques

Theory

History of research

See also

References