Narrative foresight

•Articulates theory and practice of narrative foresight.•Presents case studies of narrative foresight.•Focuses on the power of metaphors and myths to transform.•Links narrative foresight to Causal layered analysis.•Narrative foresight pedagogy.

Narrative foresight focuses on the stories individuals, organizations, states and civilizations tell themselves about the future. Narrative foresight moves futures thinking from a focus on new technologies and generally to the question of what’s next, to an exploration of the worldviews and myths that underlie possible, probable and preferred futures. It is focused on transforming the current story – metaphor or myth – held to one that supports the desired future. From a theoretical account of the narrative turn, case studies are presented of the practice of narrative foresight.