IR/Global Futures

Message From

Michael F. Oppenheimer

Clinical Professor NYU School of Professional Studies Center for Global Affairs

Dear Prospective Student,

The pace of change in international relations (IR) is accelerating rapidly, and strategic surprise is now the norm. Nearly every day we wake up to something new and unanticipated. The MS in Global Affairs International Relations/Global Futures concentration is designed to give students an advanced understanding of the factors shaping IR and the ability to place these factors in a futures context. Courses within this concentration help students to improve their ability to anticipate change and equip them with analytical tools essential for professional success—in government, business, and civil society organizations—within a transforming environment.

This concentration reflects the already strong futures emphasis in course work and in research at the NYUSPS Center for Global Affairs (CGA), as well as the growing demand in government and business for enhanced foresight, improved risk management, agile decision-making, and conflict prevention. I have been developing and applying futures techniques for many years, in my consulting practice and in 10 years of teaching at CGA. Several years ago CGA was awarded a multiyear grant from the Carnegie Corporation to construct alternate scenarios for pivotal countries through 2020, a project that employed over 30 students and has led to my book, to be published by Oxford University Press, on the strategic value and method of alternate futures.

The IR/Global Futures concentration incorporates courses and alternate scenario exercises.

Description

The IR/Global Futures concentration affords an advanced understanding of the factors shaping the future of international relations, in addition to the analytical tools needed to anticipate and evaluate the consequences of future transformation. It responds to a growing demand in government and business for enhanced foresight, improved risk management, agile decision-making and conflict prevention. The required course focuses on The Future of International Relations, while electives provide the opportunity to explore topics from Contentious Politics to Transnational Security.

Goals

Understand forces for change in IR
Imagine plausible events that could change the future course of IR
Construct alternate future scenarios that present challenges and opportunities for governments, international organizations, firms
Master the tools of strategic foresight and scenario construction, analytical tools essential for professional success-in government, business and civil society organizations

Outcomes

Students graduating with an IR/Global Futures concentration are prepared for opportunities in the private sector (global firms that demand strategic foresight about future change); government agencies—from intelligence to foreign and defense policy—that are facing a transforming policy environment; think tanks with research agendas that need to be forward leaning in order to be of use to their policy and public audiences; and NGOs and advocacy groups, whose influence depends upon their ability to produce innovative ideas and research. IR/Global Futures alumni currently operate in all of these sectors (see alumni section for details).

Requirements

Concentration: International Relations/Global Futures

The pace of change in international relations (IR) is accelerating rapidly and strategic surprise is now the norm. Nearly every day we wake up to something new and unanticipated. The International Relations/Global Futures concentration is designed to give students an advanced understanding of the factors shaping IR, and to place these factors in a futures context. What alternate future scenarios can we imagine? What are the forces for change in IR? How are these forces shaping the policies and capabilities of states and nonstate actors? What are the emerging issues that the world will have to face, and how might they be addressed? Courses within this concentration help students to improve their ability to anticipate change, and equip them with the analytical tools that are essential for professional success in a transforming environment. Students in the International Relations/Global Futures concentration are required to take the first course listed below. Students must then select five concentration elective courses (3 credits each) that are offered on a regular basis.

Professional Outcomes

The strategic foresight course taught me how to be a better decision-maker and forecaster. The class equipped me with skills that I use today in the banking space. Ossama Ayesh, Assistant Vice President at Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group

Professional Outcomes

CGA’s relationship with the Canadian Consulate led to my job as Public Affairs Officer at Canada’s Mission to the UN. Greg Viola, Foreign Service Officer with the Department of State