The inquiry into the future in the Arab world is rooted in its complex history and civilizational heritage, and cannot be understood without grasping its current situation and intellectual dichotomies. This article examines the challenges of futures studies in the Arab world, analyzing its relationship with history, civilization, and cultural legacy.
The findings indicate that since the encounter with Western civilization, the Arab world has faced issues such as geographic fragmentation, intellectual authoritarianism, and the dominance of history over thought. These factors, alongside the influence of foreign interventions and colonial projects, have hindered the formation of a coherent discourse for futures studies. Arab elites, despite efforts to outline future visions, have failed to achieve a common and practical outcome due to the lack of a strategic perspective and political constraints. The article emphasizes that futures studies in this region, rather than stemming from indigenous needs, have been influenced by external discourse, leading to a "colonization of the future." Consequently, the future of the Arab world remains ambiguous, necessitating a re-evaluation of intellectual and civilizational approaches to learn from its own history and move towards a clearer vision.