Compass February 2024 - Collapse

This issue features a wide range of perspectives on the concept of collapse and whether it should be a standard scenario archetype. Dr. Richard David Hames explores the crossroads of fate and desire in a world where old operating models have failed. Wendy Schultz argues that collapse archetypes are iconic tools that help futurists explore what must be destroyed to make room for the new. Riane Eisler proposes a paradigm shift from domination to partnership systems to build a more equitable and sustainable future. Richard Slaughter reviews fifty years of overshoot and collapse literature emphasizing the importance of human agency in finding descent pathways. Christopher Jones advocates for embracing decline images to honestly face existential threats such as rapid climate change. Andrew Curry provides a comprehensive overview of collapse theories including complexity, environment, and extraction models. Patricia Lustig and Gill Ringland introduce the concept of fractured backbones to describe the breakdown of foundational societal systems. Elina Hiltunen details how military and defense organizations use science fiction to imagine the future of war. Dr. Monica Mastrantonio analyzes the social-psychological human factors present in collapse times such as hopelessness and overconfidence. Jeremy Wilken questions whether we should abandon the collapse scenario archetype in favor of more creative chaotic or disruption scenarios. Deidre Samson and Ian Paterson provide a case study on envisioning a mobility vision for the City of Cape Town in 2050.