- Strategic Foresight Group
Strategic Foresight Group (SFG) is a
think tank based in India that helpspolicy maker s to anticipate and shape, the future in uncertain times. It produces fresh perspectives, by combining research with policy change and conflict-resolution initiatives. Its in-depthscenarios in the context of the war inIraq , instability inCentral Asia , religiousextremism inPakistan andIndia 's economy has earned SFG, a reputation for correctprojections .History
The founding of SFG coincided with a period of oscillating developments in
India-Pakistan relations. SFG produced a pioneering assessment of thecost of conflict between the two countries, which contributed to a widespread demand for peace in the subcontinent. India'sExternal Affairs Minister described it as a valuable tool for the practitioners of foreign policy. SFG Later on undertaken a similar exercise forSri Lanka at the invitation of the main stakeholders in the Sri Lanka conflict. This report too attracted considerable attendion. In 2005, its report, [http://www.strategicforesight.com/publications_research.htm#finalsettlement The Final Settlement] created a stimulating public debate on the hitherto unknownwater dimension in the India-Pakistan relations, inspiring various local language publishers to bring out translated editions of the same.While SFG focused on
South Asia in its initial period, it has since widened the scope of its work to addressterrorism ,clash of civilizations and the apparent conflict betweenWest and Islam .In 2004, SFG convened a
roundtable of leading strategic thinkers from around the world to prepare a common intellectual framework for deconstructing terror. Since then SFG has been invited by Prime Ministers, Ministers of Foreign Affairs and governments of several countries in North America, Europe, Asia and theMiddle East for policy consultations. In June 2005, SFG and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Europe, jointly convened a roundtable at the European Parliament, Brussels, involving serving and former cabinet ministers and parliamentarians from different parts of the world. The roundtable adopted the [http://www.strategicforesight.com/wir-secrt_brusselsconsensus.htm Brussels Consensus] on the principles and policies for a safer world.Current work
The [http://www.strategicforesight.com/wir-thirdroundtable.htm Third International Roundtable] was organised by
Strategic Foresight Group and theAlliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe at the European Parliament, Brussels, on 26-27 November 2006. The Roundtable was endorsed by theLeague of Arab States . It engaged important public institutions from the Western and Islamic worlds.About 40 leaders from
Europe ,Asia and theMiddle East participated in the Roundtable. They included servingcabinet ministers , former ministers, leaders ofparliamentary groups, special envoys of the heads ofmultilateral organisations and directors of important institutions. The distinguished group recommended an Inclusive Semi Permanent Conference on Peace in the Middle East, Western Islamic Dialogue and Engagement Initiative, International Historical Study Group on Common Human Civilisation, Arab IslamicRenaissance Initiative and the promotion of the Compact of Dialogue-Democracy-Development. The Roundtable welcomed the Report of the High Level Group of theAlliance of Civilizations of theUnited Nations .At the beginning of 2007 Strategic Foresight Group brought out its global research report "An Inclusive World: in which the West, Islam and the Rest have a stake". Prof Shlomo Ben Ami, former Foreign Minister of
Israel describes this "as the most comprehensive approach to solve the crisis of our time that has ever been proposed." Prof Kamel Abu Jaber, former Foreign Minister of Jordan, calls it "hope in an otherwise hopeless international system." The philosophy of An Inclusive World could be subject of a new global debate to overcome the divides at the beginning of the 21stcentury . The report was debated by Oxford University at one of the famous Oxford Union debates in May. It also featured three times in the debates at the House of Commons. The European Parliament and the League of Arab States circulated it widely among their members.One of the main conclusions of the Third International Roundtable was a proposal for Inclusive Semi Permanent Conference for the Middle East. In 2008 SFG brought out a position paper on this subject, which would be launched at the House of Lords in May.
In 2008, SFG continued its work in the Cost of Conflict series, this time focussing on the Middle East, in alignment with its other work. It convened a planning workshop at Antalya, Turkey in March 2008 under the joint sponsorship of the Swiss government and the AK Party of Turkey. It opened with inaugural addresses by Mehmet Aydin, Turky's minister who also co-chairs the Alliance of Civilizations, Thomas Greminger, senior ambassador of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and Hesham Youssef, the chef de cabinet of the Arab League Secretary General's office. About 35 experts, including several former ministers, from Israel, Palestinian territories, Arab states, Turkey and Europe participated in the workshop. SFG is expected to complete the project by the end of 2008.
Sundeep Waslekar is the President of Strategic Foresight Group. Ilmas Futehally is the Vice President.
elected publications
* Ilmas Futehally & Semu Bhatt, "Cost of conflict between India and Pakistan", Mumbai: Strategic Foresight Group. 2004. ISBN 81-88262-04-8 reviewed at [http://www.sai.uni-heidelberg.de/abt/intwep/zingel/futehally2004.pdf]
* Semu Bhatt and Devika Mistry, "Cost of Conflict in Sri Lanka" ISBN 81-88262-08-0
* The Final Settlement ISBN 81-88262-06-4 [http://www.strategicforesight.com/finalsettlement/index.htm]
* Managing Global Challenges: Scenarios for Malaysia
* Shifting Sands: Instability in Undefined Asia, ISBN 81-88262-03-X
* An Inclusive World [http://www.strategicforesight.com/publications-aninclusiveworld.htm]
* Emerging Issues Report: Global Security and Economy [http://www.strategicforesight.com/publications_research.htm#globalsecurity]External links
* [http://www.strategicforesight.com/ Strategic Foresight Group]
* [http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1802479,001302310000.htm "Lanka most militarised in South Asia: Study", Hindustan Times, September 21, 2006]
* [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/487323.cms "Price Mumbai will pay if nuked", Times of India, Feb 10, 2004]
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