| September 16-18, 2008 | U.S. Army War College | Carlisle, PA |
Analyzing Future 21st Century National Security Challenges:
Strategic Reconnaissance and Creative Thinking to Prevent Strategic Surprise
The goal of "futuring" is not to predict the future but to improve it. We want to anticipate possible or likely future conditions so that we can prepare for them. We especially want to know about opportunities and risks that we should be ready for.
-Edward Cornish
Conference materials are now available. The United States Army War College in collaboration with the National Intelligence University (NIU), Office of the Director for National Intelligence (DNI), sponsor Annual Proteus “Futures” Academic Workshops. The workshops are designed to provide scholars from various organizations across the Department of Defense (DOD), the Interagency, academia and private and corporate sectors the opportunity to present papers on topics and issues that explore complexity in the future global security environment and its discrete threats and opportunities, as well as to examine Proteus related new and innovative concepts, strategies and processes to meet 21st century United States national security challenges.
Workshop Objective and Purpose
The overall objective and intent is to bring together an international audience of military, national security and intelligence community leaders as well as experts from academia to exchange ideas and showcase studies and research in order to gain foresight and cope with future uncertainty and complexity. The focus of this effort is on the refinement, development, and application of Proteus related new and emerging “futures” concepts, methods, processes, and scenarios in strategic intelligence analysis and decision making.
The purpose is to identify relevant work that will assist strategic and high-operational level decision makers, planners and analysts within the Joint, Interagency, Intergovernmental, and Multinational (JIIM) community in “outside the box” consideration and critical analysis of national, military and intelligence issues by encouraging them to:
- Consider differing values and perceptions of future target audiences by systematically looking “outside” of the values held in Western Civilization when considering the application of all elements of national power (Diplomatic, Informational, Military, and Economic)
- Frame complex issues holistically, to identify and consider the second and third order effects and unintended consequences of policy and strategy decisions
- Scan the horizon and define the future environment to systematically identify discrete threats and capitalize on hidden opportunities
Workshop Design and Deliverables
These workshops are unclassified three-day events hosted by Proteus USA, centering on paper and panel discussions that focus on the topical themes Other workshop agenda and activities include plenary discussions, guest speakers, catered luncheons and an evening dinner. After the workshop, Proteus USA will develop an Executive Workshop Report covering discussions and proceedings. And publish a selection of those papers submitted, chosen for creativity, quality and manner in which new and emerging concepts are applied.