FEATURES AND PRINCIPLES OF FORESIGHT IN INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES

Abstract

The article examines theoretical approaches to defining the concept of foresight, while also proposing an original author`s definition of foresight in the context of international activities. The relevance of foresight research has been identified across various levels of economic and social development—micro, macro, meso, and international. The significance of foresight for national economies, international security, global trade, capital flows, and other forms of international activity has been elucidated. Notably, the increasing role of international insurance in mitigating risks and threats arising during the execution of international economic relations has been emphasized. By analyzing the conditions under which foresight technologies have been applied in different countries over the past sixty years, the authors have delineated the fundamental differences between foresight and traditional forecasting, highlighting the advantages of the former. The urgency of investigating foresight in international activities has become particularly pronounced amid rapid and unstable changes in the economic and political landscape. This situation necessitates new strategic planning approaches from government bodies, enterprises, and other economic actors. The article underscores that in times of uncertainty, economic and political crises, geopolitical polarization, and the legal regime of martial law in Ukraine, foresight emerges as a crucial tool for identifying potential future scenarios. Its application enables timely identification of risks and threats to the national economy, facilitating the development of strategies to mitigate their impact and thereby enhancing international security. According to the authors, the integration of foresight with international insurance mechanisms empowers national economic agents to assess risks and threats promptly while formulating effective strategies to neutralize them. Foresight, as a tool for ensuring competitiveness in the global market, allows for the anticipation of technological dynamics, structural changes in the international economy, and transformations within the institutional frameworks of national economies. The authors’ analysis of foresight principles highlights the importance of intersectoral interaction, communication, and coordination among all stakeholders, which fosters a comprehensive approach to strategy formulation. Thus, the authors of this article demonstrate that foresight is a key instrument for developing adaptive strategies on the international stage, taking into account the complex global transformations occurring in the economy and society.