Path Breaking and Path Creation
Journal of Futures Studies
Special issue
″Path Breaking and Path Creation″
Vol. 14. No. 3 (February 2011)
Path dependence theory (PDT) explains how single (even random) events and increasing returns determine future conjectures and lead to stable states, in brief: why history matters. For social sciences, PDT can help understand the long-term evolution of institutions and organizations.
Futures researchers are interested in alternative possible, probable, preferable, and preventable futures. Insights from path dependence theory can help them forecast possible and probable futures. However, path dependent phenomena often are inefficient. Thus, a reform or renewal - an alternative future path - may be needed.
Against this background, PDT scholars discuss path breaking and path creation.″Given the assumption that change is path dependent, what are the possibilities of escaping the path set by the past: of escaping history?″ (Hċkansson/Lundren, 1997, p. 125). What are the ″possibilities of making and breaking history″?
The February 2011 issue of the Journal of Futures Studies invites articled focusing on path breaking and path creation. Articles should comprise roughly 5,000-7,000 words. All articles are refereed by two reviewers.
A brief article concept or summary should be directed to Victor Tiberius as soon as possible.
We have announced submissions on the following topics:
- Introduction to path breaking and path creation
- Individual path dependence and breaking
- Path creation and innovation
- Path dependency and creation from a strategic perspective
The submissions should strictly conform to the JFS guidelines (http://www.jfs.tku.edu.tw/invauthors.html). The deadline for submissions is October 31, 2010.