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About Us
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History and Mission
Azerbaijan Future Studies Society (AFSS) was established in January 2006 as a non-profit research center. This is the first research center of such kind in Azerbaijan with the aim of studying the current trends and predicting the future ones. AFSS incorporates in itself a group of professional experts and analysts who use international models of future studies and analyze the development trends for Azerbaijan as well as for the whole Caucasus region. Ministry of Communication and Information Technologies of Azerbaijan provides its generous support to projects affiliated with the AFSS. One of the directions of the activities of Azerbaijan Future Studies Society is connected with propaganda of the cultural values of Azerbaijan.
Methodology
While analyzing the issues and forecasting future models of development, AFSS uses methodological tools that have been known to Western experts for many decades. AFSS combines various interdisciplinary approaches to the study of the future, such as political, economic, social, cultural, geo-political analysis as well as the consideration of such factors as mentality, history, regional conflicts, security issues and global trends. AFSS takes a careful view at all exiting variable and studies the risks and challenges to the predicted forecast. Finally, AFSS conduct various surveys, secondary data study, interviews, qualitative and quantitative researches for the purpose of full and complete study of the issue.
AFSS offers qualitative research studies and analysis on future trends and models of development in the sphere of politics, economics, security, conflict and social/religious problems, the future of the science and technology and other emerging problems. Such a broad frames of the research covers the main spheres of the society and has not only scientific but also applied character especially in our country there rapid economic development and long-term Karabakh conflict, priority of the democratic values together with the traditional Islamic way of life and etc have become interwoven.
What do we offer?
The Azerbaijan Future Studies Society (AFSS) offers qualitative investigation and analysis of future trends, and development models for politics, economics, security issues, conflictology and social-religious issues.
International Links
AFSS has been in close contacts with the leading Western specialists and organizations in the field of Future Studies.
Among them is Jerome C. Glenn, the founder and the director of the Millenium Project – a leading universal research center and the publisher of the internationally recognized annual report known as the State of the Future.
On October 5th 2006 Memorandum of Understanding was signed between AFSS and Millennium Project, a transinstitutional and transdisciplinary global participatory think tank, which produces the internationally recognized State of the Future annual reports.
Azerbaijan became 29th country in the world to have the Node of MP.
AFSS also cooperates with Eleonora Barbieri Massini, a member of the Rome Club, the World Futures Studies Federation and the Scientific Council of Italian World Wildlife Fund (under the World Wide Fund for Nature). Mrs Massini is the coordinator on behalf of UNESCO’s project on the future of the cultures and is currently leading the UNESCO’s International Women Network project.
AFSS also cooperates with Mika Mannermaa, the author of more than 200 reports, books and articles in the field of futurology, and a member of the Board of the Finland Futures Academy, and the Wold Futures Studies Federation. He is the director of the courses of the World Federation of Futurists.
AFSS cooperates with Prof. Fabienne Goux-Baudiment, the president of the World Futures Studies Federation – the biggest international network of futurists and political technologists from more than 80 countries.
She is the professor at the University of Angers (France), a leading expert in global issues (environmental, energy and space studies, the Mediterranean Sea, etc.) and a member of scientific committees for the implementation of seminars and conferences. She heads a consultancy for futures studies.
AFSS also cooperates with Alexander I. Ageev, the Director General, Institute for Economic Strategies. D.Sc. (Economics); Professor; Academician, Russian Academy of Natural Sciences; MBA(UK Kingston university). President, Russian Division, International League of Strategic Management/Editor-in-Chief, Economic Strategies magazine; Head, Economic and Management Chair, Moscow Engineering Physics Institute (State University, MEPHI); President of Russian Academy for Future Studies.
With honours has graduated from the Lomonosov Moscow State University, the World Economy and International Relations Institute, the USSR Academy of Sciences, the Kingston University (UK), the Academy of National Economy under Government RF. Received training in the USA and the South Korea. Worked on governing positions in the USSR Academy of Sciences, Ministry of Foreign Economic Affairs, in aerospace and nuclear industries.
Conducts author's strategic management courses. Author of more than 200 research works. Member, International Journalists Union, Russian Writers Union.
Measures
Since May 18th through 20th, 2006, AFSS organized the 1st International Futurology Colloquium for local specialists, with participation of leading experts from Western Europe. The purpose of the event was to present futurology, as the study or prediction of the future of mankind, to the Azerbaijani public, scientists and scholars and specialists, by means of media, including interviews, press conferences and articles.
In November 2006, AFSS ensured the participation of Azerbaijani students in Global Millennium Prize (www.globalmillenniumprize.org), a Mexico-hosted annual international contest on the topic of 15 Global Challenges. A student from Azerbaijan took part in the contest with an essay, Population and resources, and, after passing the local level (category 1), became the first candidate from Azerbaijan who was awarded the second place at the international level (category 2) of the competition.
Since March through June 2007, AFSS successfully implemented – and continues so presently – the first Republican Essay Contest on the topic Face to Face with Future Generations, a national level of the Global Millennium Prize for 15 Global Challenges, among all students in Azerbaijan, through the support from the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Ministry of Education, and the State Committee on Family, Women’s and Children’s Issues. The winners were awarded valuable gifts, while their essays were qualified for the international level of the Global Millennium Prize. Subsequently, the contestants from Azerbaijan took part in the Mexico-hosted Global Millennium Prize and 5 of them made great strides, having won first places in 4 nominations.
In June 2007, AFSS invited Jerome C. Glenn, the director of the Millenium Project, to Azerbaijan, through the support provided by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technologies of the Azerbaijan Republic, and organized a four-day seminar for government officials and business leaders on the topic entitled Concepts and Methods of Future Surveys for Management and Decision Making.
AFSS is currently implementing a project on the civil society and community groups education and capacity building for the protection of sexual and reproductive health of youth in Azerbaijan, co-financed by the European Union and UNFPA, with the purpose of implementation of the Reproductive Health Initiative for Youth in South Caucasus, as well as the improvement of the level of sexual and reproductive health, and the protection of the rights of youth.
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