This episode is a recording of our recent event held in Think Corner in Helsinki.

Whose Future? Global Visions in a Contested World explored the state of the world in 2026 and what today’s shifting power dynamics mean for societies most affected by global inequality. As geopolitical tensions escalate and global governance faces growing contestation, the discussion asked: where does power truly lie, and whose futures are prioritized?

A central theme was the meaning of a “multipolar world.” Does multipolarity create new space for countries and communities outside traditional centers of power, or does it merely reshape old hierarchies under new forms?

The panel connected global dynamics — including deglobalization, autocratization, colonialism, neoliberalism, and populism — to everyday realities such as livelihoods, public services, migration, citizenship, and the struggle to meet basic needs. The discussion also explored what is often missing from mainstream narratives, and where there may still be room for solidarity, political agency, and alternative futures.

Guests:

Walden Bello is a renowned scholar and activist, Honorary Senior Research Fellow at SUNY Binghamton, and co-founder of Focus on the Global South in Bangkok. He received the Right Livelihood Award in 2003 for exposing the impacts of corporate-driven globalization. His latest book is Global Battlefields: Memoir of a Legendary Public Intellectual from the Global South.

Robtel Neajai Pailey is Assistant Professor at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Her work focuses on Critical Development, African, and Race Studies, with research on citizenship, belonging, and structural transformation in Africa. Her award-winning book is Development, (Dual) Citizenship and Its Discontents in Africa.

Dr. Bonn Juego is a political economist and Senior Lecturer in International Development Studies at the University of Jyväskylä. He serves as Chair of the Finnish Society for Development Research and studies crises and alternatives to capitalism, with a focus on the Global South and North–South relations.

Moderated by Max Tallberg and Astrid Aminoff.

The event was part of the pre-conference programme of Development Days 2026, celebrating FSDR’s 40th anniversary.

Global Visions is a non-profit association based in Helsinki, Finland, working to bring people and organisations together to develop ideas aimed at building a better world.

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More information:

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Take our Visionary Test and find out what type of Visionary you are! https://visionary.globalvisions.tech

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In the second episode of this two part series on transformative politics, futures, and hope, we turn to the question of what comes next. If the future is not predetermined, how can it be shaped, and by whom? The conversation explores the idea that the future is fundamentally open, while acknowledging the constraints posed by climate change, technological developments, and shifting geopolitical dynamics. What does it mean to act under uncertainty, and how can political imagination be sustained in times of crisis?

Sirkka Heinonen emphasises futures literacy, collective visioning, and the distinction between possible, probable, and preferable futures. She highlights the need to imagine alternatives and develop forms of anticipatory governance. Thomas Wallgren reflects on the ethical and political dimensions of uncertainty, questioning dominant narratives around technological progress and emphasising responsibility, agency, and the power of truth. The discussion engages with the limits of current political frameworks and how we understand expertise and collective action.

The episode brings together philosopher and political thinker Professor Thomas Wallgren (University of Helsinki) and Professor Emerita of Futures Research Sirkka Heinonen (University of Turku).

Thomas Wallgren’s work focuses on democracy, transformative politics, and the structural conditions shaping political possibility. He has been closely involved with the World Social Forum and has written extensively on its significance, limitations, and the evolving nature of global political movements.

Sirkka Heinonen is a leading scholar in futures research whose work explores foresight, anticipatory governance, and the role of imagination in shaping societal trajectories. Her research emphasises how engaging with multiple possible futures can itself be a democratic and transformative practice.

Suggested reading:

Paul Raskin, Journey to Earthland: The Great Transition to Planetary Civilization (Tellus Institute, 2016).

Heinonen, Sirkka & Viitamäki, Riku (2025). Society, Skills and Spaces – Curated Conversations on Futures of Work with Foresight Experts. FFRC eBooks 1/2025. Finland Futures Research Centre, University of Turku. ISBN 978-952-249-623-2 (pdf), 978-952-249-624-9 (print). ISSN 1797-1322.

Host: Astrid Aminoff

Global Visions is a non-profit association based in Helsinki, Finland, working to bring people and organisations together to develop ideas aimed at building a better world.

Follow and learn more:

Instagram: @globalvisionsry

Bluesky: globalvisions.bsky.social

TikTok: @globalvisionsry

LinkedIn: Global Visions

Watch our Panel Discussions on our YouTube Channel

YouTube: GlobalVisionsry

More information:

www.globalvisions.fi/en

Take our Visionary Test and find out what type of Visionary you are! https://visionary.globalvisions.tech

Our music is licensed from Premium Beat.

Episode 1: From 1990s Optimism to Authoritarian Capitalism

In the first episode of this two-part series on transformative politics, futures, and hope, we revisit the political optimism of the 1990s and ask what became of the idea that “another world is possible.” What kind of hope shaped global civil society at the time, and how grounded was it in real possibilities for transformation?

The episode brings together philosopher and political thinker Thomas Wallgren and Professor Emerita of Futures Research Sirkka Heinonen.

Thomas Wallgren’s work focuses on democracy, transformative politics, and the structural conditions shaping political possibility. He has been closely involved with the World Social Forum and has written extensively on its significance, limitations, and the evolving nature of global political movements.

Sirkka Heinonen is a leading scholar in futures research whose work explores foresight, anticipatory governance, and the role of imagination in shaping societal trajectories. Her research emphasises how engaging with multiple possible futures can itself be a democratic and transformative practice.

Together, they reflect on the emergence of the World Social Forum, the political openings of the post–Cold War period, and the subsequent shifts in global power structures. The discussion introduces the concept of authoritarian capitalism and explores how contemporary political and economic developments may be reshaping and constraining both transformative politics and our capacity to imagine alternative futures.

The episode sets the stage for a deeper exploration of futures thinking, responsibility, and the possibility of hope in the second part of the series.

Suggested reading:

Paul Raskin, Journey to Earthland: The Great Transition to Planetary Civilization (Tellus Institute, 2016).

Heinonen, Sirkka & Viitamäki, Riku (2025). Society, Skills and Spaces – Curated Conversations on Futures of Work with Foresight Experts. FFRC eBooks 1/2025. Finland Futures Research Centre, University of Turku. ISBN 978-952-249-623-2 (pdf), 978-952-249-624-9 (print). ISSN 1797-1322.

Host: Astrid Aminoff

Global Visions is a non-profit association based in Helsinki, Finland, working to bring people and organisations together to develop ideas aimed at building a better world.

Follow and learn more:

Instagram: @globalvisionsry

Bluesky: globalvisions.bsky.social

TikTok: @globalvisionsry

LinkedIn: Global Visions

Watch our Panel Discussions on our YouTube Channel

YouTube: GlobalVisionsry

More information:

www.globalvisions.fi/en

Take our Visionary Test and find out what type of Visionary you are! https://visionary.globalvisions.tech

Our music is licensed from Premium Beat.

In the second episode of our two-part series on human rights, we turn to the growing pressures facing human rights today and consider what their future might look like in an era marked by geopolitical tensions, technological transformation, and political contestation. What are the most significant challenges confronting human rights today, and how can societies respond when rights come into conflict?

The podcast brings together Professor Reetta Toivanen, Professor of Sustainability Science at the Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS), Postdoctoral Researcher Tuija Kasa from the Faculty of Education at the University of Helsinki.

Together, they examine the increasing political pressures on human rights frameworks, the role of human rights in guiding political decision-making at national, European, and global levels, and the difficult questions that arise when fundamental rights collide. The discussion also explores how rapidly developing technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, are reshaping both the risks and possibilities for protecting human dignity and fundamental freedoms.

The episode concludes by looking ahead: what kind of future for human rights is realistically emerging, and what more hopeful visions might guide efforts to strengthen them in the decades to come?

Host: Max Tallberg

Global Visions is a non-profit association based in Helsinki, Finland, with the purpose of bringing people and organisations together to develop ideas aimed at building a better world.

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In the first episode of our two-part series on human rights, we explore the foundations of human rights, their historical development, and their current state in a rapidly changing world. What do human rights mean today, and how effectively do existing systems protect those most vulnerable to discrimination, exclusion, and injustice?

The podcast brings together Professor Reetta Toivanen, Professor of Sustainability Science at the Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS), and Postdoctoral Researcher Tuija Kasa from the Faculty of Education at the University of Helsinki, whose work engages deeply with human rights from legal, educational, and societal perspectives.

Together, they reflect on the origins of human rights, assess global developments and setbacks, and examine how well current frameworks respond to the realities faced by migrants, minorities, and other marginalized groups. The discussion addresses the uneven protection of human rights across contexts, the gaps between legal commitments and lived realities, and the pressures human rights face amid growing inequality and democratic backsliding. The episode also considers whether existing human rights frameworks are sufficient, or whether broader approaches are needed to address structural injustices.

Host: Max Tallberg

Global Visions is a non profit association based in Helsinki, Finland, with the purpose of bringing people and organisations together to develop ideas aimed at building a better world.

Follow and learn more:

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As 2025 draws to a close, the world faces an increasingly interconnected set of global challenges — climate change, wars, geopolitical instability, economic inequality, and uncertainty about the future. How can societies respond to this complex landscape? What visions, values, and forms of cooperation might guide humanity toward a more just and sustainable world? This State of the World 2025 panel brings together leading experts from futures studies, economics, and political science to reflect on the defining issues of our time and to share their perspectives on the paths ahead. The conversation explores themes such as the European Union’s role in global governance, the future of peace and international relations, and the kinds of economic models that could best support human wellbeing in the coming decades.

Panelists

Sirkka Heinonen Professor Emerita of Futures Studies, University of Turku A pioneering figure in Finnish and European futures research, Heinonen’s work focuses on sustainable development, societal transformation, and the futures of peace. As a long-time member of the Club of Rome and the Millennium Project, she has contributed to global networks advancing strategic foresight and imaginative approaches to building sustainable and peaceful futures.

Johanna Vuorelma Political Theorist and Researcher, University of Helsinki Vuorelma specializes in democracy, political narratives, and the role of the European Union in global politics. Her research examines how legitimacy and power are constructed through discourse, and how ideas and narratives shape Europe’s capacity for global cooperation. She is a frequent commentator on EU affairs and democratic governance.

Sixten Korkman Economist One of Finland’s most respected economists, Korkman has served in leadership roles at the Finnish Ministry of Finance, the EU’s Economic and Financial Affairs Council, the Research Institute of the Finnish Economy (ETLA), and the Finnish Business and Policy Forum (EVA). His work focuses on economic policy, the Nordic welfare model, global interdependence, and the pursuit of economic justice and social wellbeing.

Risto Marjomaa Docent and University Lecturer, University of Helsinki A historian specializing in global history, conflicts, and colonial legacies, Marjomaa’s work spans Africa and the Middle East, with recent research on Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, modern racism, and the long-term impacts of historical power structures on today’s conflicts. Marjomaa gave the Keynote lecture of the event. To watch the lecture, visit our channel.

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Website: www.globalvisions.fi/en

Take the Visionary Test! https://visionary.globalvisions.tech Global Visions is a non-profit association based in Helsinki, Finland with the purpose of bringing people and organisations together and developing ideas aimed at building a better world.

As 2025 approaches its end, the world continues to grapple with overlapping global crises — climate change, wars, geopolitical instability, economic inequality, and growing uncertainty about the future. How can we respond to these interconnected challenges? What kinds of values, visions, and global cooperation might guide humanity toward a more just and sustainable future? We were honoured to host Docent and University Lecturer Risto Marjomaa (University of Helsinki) for this year’s State of the World lecture, where he outlined the key global developments, risks, and transformations defining 2025.

Risto Marjomaa is a historian specializing in global history, conflicts, colonial legacies, and the roots of contemporary crises in Africa and the Middle East. His recent work includes analyses of Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, modern racism, and the long-term impacts of historical power structures on current global tensions. This lecture was part of the State of the World 2025 event organized by Global Visions ry, followed by a panel discussion featuring leading voices from futures studies, economics, and political science. Moderated by Max Tallberg and Astrid Aminoff. To watch the panel discussion, visit our channel.

Connect & Follow:

YouTube: Globalvisionsry

Instagram: @globalvisionsry

YouTube: @global LinkedIn: Global Visions

Bluesky: globalvisions.bsky.social

TikTok: @globalvisionsry

Website: www.globalvisions.fi/en

Take the Visionary Test! https://visionary.globalvisions.tech

Global Visions is a non-profit association based in Helsinki, Finland with the purpose of bringing people and organisations together and developing ideas aimed at building a better world.

What would it take for the world to adopt a global carbon tax, and could such a policy become a meaningful tool for responding to the climate crisis? In this episode, we speak with Professor Jamie Morgan from Leeds Beckett University and Professor Heikki Patomäki from the University of Helsinki, two scholars who have collaborated extensively on the idea of a global greenhouse gas tax.

Jamie Morgan is Professor of Economics at Leeds Beckett University, whose work spans political economy, the philosophy of economics, global governance, critical realism, and climate policy. Heikki Patomäki is Professor of World Politics and Global Political Economy at the University of Helsinki. His research covers a broad range of themes including economic theory, global political economy, futures studies, and global justice.

Together we explore the central questions behind implementing a global carbon tax. How should revenues be allocated, and which approaches might be both fair and politically realistic? Could existing policy models offer a foundation for global implementation? What kinds of wider social or economic benefits might follow beyond emissions reductions?

We also discuss strategies for building public and political support, and consider whether a global carbon tax could ever gain broad international acceptance. Looking forward, Jamie and Heikki reflect on how technological, political, and economic developments might reshape the future of global climate governance.

The conversation continues themes from our recent panel, Global Carbon Tax: Challenges, Opportunities and Future Visions, offering a deeper look at the possibilities and complexities of creating a coordinated global response to climate change.

Global Visions is a non profit association based in Helsinki, Finland, with the purpose of bringing people and organisations together to develop ideas aimed at building a better world.

Follow and learn more:

Instagram: @globalvisionsry Bluesky: globalvisions.bsky.social TikTok: @globalvisionsry LinkedIn: Global Visions Watch our events on YouTube: GlobalVisionsry More information: www.globalvisions.fi/en

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