Journal of Strategic Management and Future Studies

Journal of Strategic Management and Future Studies

Antecedents and Consequences of the Dominance of Technocracy in Futures Studies: A Qualitative Documentary Content Analysis

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Reza Delavari
Assistant Professor, Department of Governance, Faculty of Facuty of Manegement and Accounting, Tolou-e Mehr University, Qom, Iran
10.22034/jsmf.2025.547897.1142
Abstract
The present study aims to identify and analyze the antecedents and consequences of the domination of technocracy in futures studies and to explain its effects on philosophical, techno-scientific, managerial–organizational, and socio-cultural dimensions. This qualitative research employs a descriptive–analytical approach and is based on content analysis of scientific documents, articles, books, and dissertations related to the field. Data were collected through document review and note-taking and then analyzed using qualitative content and conceptual analysis methods. Findings indicate that philosophical, technological, managerial, and socio-cultural antecedents have gradually reduced the notion of the future to a technical and quantitative phenomenon. Consequently, outcomes such as the restriction of creativity, the dominance of technical predictivism, the decline in the use of qualitative methods, and the widening gap between technical elites and civil society have emerged. The study emphasizes that to preserve the interdisciplinary and critical nature of futures studies, it is essential to maintain a balance between quantitative data and human–cultural analyses. Furthermore, by proposing a conceptual model of antecedents and consequences, this study offers a novel framework for analyzing the phenomenon of technocracy in futures research. The results may serve as a basis for rethinking methodologies in futures studies and strengthening qualitative and interpretive approaches. Thus, the present research contributes to enriching the critical discourse of futures studies and enhancing its interdisciplinary capacities.
Keywords
Futures studies
Antecedents
Consequences
Technocracy
Journal of Strategic Management and Future Studies
Volume 8, Issue 1
October 2025
Pages 153-180