Seven Revolutions

Leadership is compressed. Greater connectivity across the world means broader perspectives are more important than ever before, but leaders—no matter what their sector—have far fewer opportunities to think beyond their short term priorities and immediate responsibilities. Instant information flows are bringing planning horizons closer and closer to the present; pressures from multiple stakeholders are eroding prospects for consensus. It is increasingly difficult for leaders to act in the short term in ways that will yield long-term results.

SEVEN REVOLUTIONS is a project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) to identify and analyze the key policy challenges that policymakers, business figures, and other leaders will face out to the year 2030. It is an effort to promote strategic thinking on the long-term trends that too few leaders take the time to consider.

In exploring the world of 2030, we have identified seven areas of change we expect to be most "revolutionary":

1. Population
2. Resource management and climate change
3. Technological innovation and diffusion
4. The development and dissemination of information and knowledge
5. Economics
6. The nature and mode of security
7. The challenge of governance

Each of these seven forces embodies both opportunity and risk in the years ahead. Together, they will transform the way we live and interact with one another. That is why we call them the "Seven Revolutions."

The key points of this research have been captured in an exciting, fast-paced, multimedia presentation that has been given around the world—from governments to private corporations to academia to nongovernmental organizations. SEVEN REVOLUTIONS is constantly updated to reflect the latest data analysis and available technologies. It is an effective tool for pushing audiences to think outside of their areas of expertise and beyond their familiar planning parameters.

SEVEN REVOLUTIONS continues to be the focal point of a running debate at CSIS and other organizations on the most important forces shaping the world and the policy challenges they engender. It is a challenge to leaders—a challenge to think seriously about events that are over the horizon and a challenge to formulate and carry out policies in the near term to effect longer-range benefits. For more information on the presentation, please email (saughenbaugh@csis.org) or call Scott Aughenbaugh at  (202) 775-3157.