Future Histories International
Future Histories International is a podcast that explores alternative visions of the future, challenging conventional thinking about what lies ahead. It features English-language episodes that delve into topics such as technology, society, and culture, aiming to expand listeners' perspectives on possible futures. The show is hosted by Jan Groos and is part of the broader Future Histories podcast network.
Episodes
Jaya Klara Brekke on the Political in Blockchain
Which conceptions of the political are inscribed in blockchain technologies? What is cryptoeconomics? And what does it look like if we disassemble the blockchain truth machine?Shownotes:Jaya’s research homepage:http://distributingchains.info/Download Jaya’s Dissertation here:Brekke, Jaya Klara. 2019. Disassembling the Trust Machine. Geography Department, Durham University:http://distributingchain
Richard Barbrook on Imaginary Futures
What could desirable imaginary futures look like? Richard Barbrook brings up some very interesting ideas on this question and explores past and present futures in order to work towards different worlds to come.ShownotesRichard on Monoskop:https://monoskop.org/Richard_BarbrookRichard on Twitter:https://twitter.com/richardbarbrook?lang=deHomepage "Imaginary Futures":http://www.imaginaryfutures.net/
Dime & Punishment Panel
This is a the recording of a panel I organized and moderated in Febuary 2020 as part of my research fellowship at the Weizenbaum Institute for the Networked Society. The panel critically discusses the expansion of cryptoeconomics into an 'art of government'. The panelists are: - Jaya Klara Brekke (Post-Doc Researcher at the Department of Geography, Durham University) - Benjamin Seibel (Director o
Daniel E. Saros on Digital Socialism and the Abolition of Capital (Part 1)
Part 1 of the in depth interview with Daniel E Saros. While many are unsatisfied with capitalism and critique it in highly sophisticated ways, there are few concrete proposals for a socialist mode of production that could replace the capitalist one. Daniel E. Saros has developed such a proposal in his book "Information Technology and Socialist Construction – The End of Capital and the Transition
Daniel E. Saros on Digital Socialism and the Abolition of Capital (Part 2)
Part 2 of the in depth interview with Daniel E Saros. While many are unsatisfied with capitalism and critique it in highly sophisticated ways, there are few concrete proposals for a socialist mode of production that could replace the capitalist one. Daniel E. Saros has developed such a proposal in his book "Information Technology and Socialist Construction – The End of Capital and the Transition
Jeffrey Sachs on Economics Beyond GDP
It's high time for economics to overcome its obsession with GDP and move towards better indicators in the pursuit of a general wellbeing, says Jeffrey Sachs, well known economist, director of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and Professor at Columbia University. ShownotesWiki on Jeffrey Sachs:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_SachsJeffrey Sachs on Twitter:https://twitter.com/j
Moira Weigel on Palantir, Tech-Nationalism & Aggression in the Life-World
In her work Moira Weigel takes a close look at the liaison between technology and nationalism. For this the dissertation of Palantir’s CEO, Alex C. Karp, is a surprisingly revealing document.ShownotesMoira Weigel’s Website:http://www.moiraweigel.com/Moira on Twitter:https://twitter.com/moiragweigelMoira Weigel at Harvard:https://cyber.harvard.edu/people/moira-weigel-0Weigel, Moira und Ben Tranoff
Benjamin Bratton on Synthetic Catallaxies, Platforms of Platforms & Red Futurism (part 1/2)
Benjamin Bratton is one of the most interesting thinkers of our time. In his work he bridges the gap between political theory and the techno-social realities and possibilities of our time.On the format:This Future Histories LIVE event came together as part of an invitation to hold a guest lecture at the Goldsmiths College in London. I proposed a format in which I would hold a short presentation o
Benjamin Bratton on Synthetic Catallaxies, Platforms of Platforms & Red Futurism (part 2/2)
Part two of the episode with Benjamin Bratton one of the most interesting contemporary thinkers. In his work he bridges the gap between political theory and the techno-social realities and possibilities of our time.On the format:This Future Histories LIVE event came together as part of an invitation to hold a guest lecture at the Goldsmiths College in London. I proposed a format in which I would
Jasper Bernes on Planning and Anarchy
Jasper Bernes presents a sharp critique of centralized planning and proposes what he calls: Planarchy.ShownotesJasper Bernes on Twitter:https://twitter.com/outsidadgitatorBernes, Jasper. 2020. "Planning and Anarchy". In South Atlantic Quaterly vol. 119(1): 53-73:https://jasperbernesdotnet.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/1190053.pdf Jasper Bernes' Website:https://jasperbernes.net/Commune Editions Maga
Aaron Benanav on Associational Socialism and Democratic Planning
A world without scarcity is possible for everybody! Aaron Benanav shares his idea of how we could achieve this associational utopia, today.Collaborative Podcast TranscriptionIf you would like to support Future Histories by contributing to the collaborative transcription of episodes, please contact us at:transkription@futurehistories.today(German) Kollaborative Podcast-Transkription FAQ:shorturl.a
James Muldoon on Platform Socialism
Platforms are ubiquitous. However, they arguably can only realise their full potential when they are no longer subjected to the imperatives of the profit motive. For this we need: Platform Socialism.Collaborative Podcast TranscriptionIf you would like to support Future Histories by contributing to the collaborative transcription of episodes, please contact us at:transkription@futurehistories.toda
Lea Ypi on Freedom
Lea Ypi reflects on her childhood and youth in socialist Albania and the country's subsequent transition to liberal democracy and a free market economy. What's clear: None of the political economies Ypi experienced satisfied her need for and concept of freedom.ShownotesLea Ypi's Website:https://personal.lse.ac.uk/YPI/Lea on Twitter:https://twitter.com/lea_ypiYpi. Lea. 2021. Free. Coming of Age at
Drew Pendergrass and Troy Vettese on Half Earth Socialism
With "Half Earth Socialism" Drew Pendergrass and Troy Vettese want to provide a plan to save the earth and bring the good life to all.Collaborative Podcast TranscriptionIf you would like to support Future Histories by contributing to the collaborative transcription of episodes, please contact us at:transkription@futurehistories.today(German) Kollaborative Podcast-Transkription FAQ:shorturl.at/eL5
David Laibman on Multilevel Democratic Iterative Coordination
What could a democratic planned economy actually look like? David Laibman has been on the forefront of thinking about this issue for more than 30 years.Collaborative Podcast TranscriptionIf you would like to support Future Histories by contributing to the collaborative transcription of episodes, please contact us at:transkription@futurehistories.today(German) Kollaborative Podcast-Transkription F
Trebor Scholz on Platform Cooperativism
Over the last decade platform-cooperativism has grown from an idea into a movement. How far can it take us? Collaborative Podcast TranscriptionIf you would like to support Future Histories by contributing to the collaborative transcription of episodes, please contact us at:transkription@futurehistories.today(German) Kollaborative Podcast-Transkription FAQ:shorturl.at/eL578ShownotesTrebor Scholz (
Robin Hahnel on Parecon (Part1)
Participatory Economics (Parecon) – developed by Michael Albert and Robin Hahnel – is one of the most popular models for democratic economic planning.English-only Future Histories Website & RSS-Feed:https://futurehistories-international.comhttps://futurehistories-international.com/feed.xmlCollaborative Podcast TranscriptionIf you would like to support Future Histories by contributing to the colla
Robin Hahnel on Parecon (Part 2)
Participatory Economics (Parecon) – developed by Michael Albert and Robin Hahnel – is one of the most comprehensive models for democratic economic planning.English-episodes-only Future Histories Website & RSS-Feed:https://futurehistories-international.comhttps://futurehistories-international.com/feed.xmlCollaborative Podcast TranscriptionIf you would like to support Future Histories by contributi
Nick Dyer-Witheford on Biocommunism
Nick Dyer-Witheford on biocommunism, "a communism emerging from the catastrophes capital now inflicts throughout the bios, the realm of life itself". Future Histories InternationalFind all English episodes of Future Histories here:https://futurehistories-international.com/and subscribe to the Future Histories International RSS-Feed (English episodes only) ShownotesNick Dyer-Witheford (University
Thomas Swann on Anarchist Cybernetics
Thomas Swann brings together the rich tradition of anarchist self-organization with Stafford Beers Viable System Model.Future Histories InternationalFind all English episodes of Future Histories here:https://futurehistories-international.com/and subscribe to the Future Histories International RSS-Feed (English episodes only)ShownotesThomas Swann at Loughborough University:https://www.lboro.ac.uk/
Pat Devine on Negotiated Coordination
Pat Devine on his model of participatory planning through 'negotiated coordination'.English-episodes-only Future Histories Website & RSS-Feed: https://futurehistories-international.com https://futurehistories-international.com/feed.xmlCollaborative Podcast TranscriptionIf you would like to support Future Histories by contributing to the collaborative transcription of episodes, please contact
Antoinette Rouvroy on Algorithmic Governmentality
Future Histories LIVEThe interview with Antoinette Rouvroy is part of the format “Future Histories LIVE”. At irregular intervals, individual episodes are recorded live in front of an audience. This episode of Future Histories was recorded on December 2nd, 2022 in Vienna at Part 1 of the Political Cybernetics Workshop Series “Biological Life and Political Cybernetics”.Future Histories Internationa
Evgeny Morozov on Discovery Beyond Competition
There are many alternative discovery procedures that are superior to market competition. Let's nurture and scale them, says Evgeny Morozov.Future Histories InternationalFind all English episodes of Future Histories here:https://futurehistories-international.com/and subscribe to the Future Histories International RSS-Feed (English episodes only) Collaborative Podcast TranscriptionIf you would like
Matt Huber on Building Socialism, Climate Change & Class War
Matt Huber on climate change as class war and how to build socialism through class struggle as climate politics.Future Histories InternationalFind all English episodes of Future Histories here:https://futurehistories-international.com/and subscribe to the Future Histories International RSS-Feed (English episodes only) ShownotesMatthew T. Huber (Syracuse University):https://www.maxwell.syr.edu/dir
Elisa Loncón Antileo on Plurinational Constitutionalism
A conversation with Elisa Loncón Antileo, the first president of the Chilean constitutional convention, about the potential of a plurinational constitution.Future Histories InternationalFind all English episodes of Future Histories here:https://futurehistories-international.com/and subscribe to the Future Histories International RSS-Feed (English episodes only) ShownotesElisa Loncón Antileo (Univ
Simon Denny on Tech-Imaginaries
An artist talk with Simon Denny recorded in collaboration with the Kunstverein Hannover.Future Histories InternationalFind all English episodes of Future Histories here:https://futurehistories-international.com/and subscribe to the Future Histories International RSS-Feed (English episodes only) ShownotesSimon Denny:https://simondenny.net/Simon Denny (HFBK Hamburg):https://www.hfbk-hamburg.de/de/n
Silvia Federici on Progress, Reproduction and Commoning
The influencial feminist scholar Silvia Federici shares her thoughts on commons based futures. Future Histories InternationalFind all English episodes of Future Histories here:https://futurehistories-international.com/and subscribe to the Future Histories International RSS-Feed (English episodes only) ShownotesSilvia Federici (Monoskop):https://monoskop.org/Silvia_FedericiFederici, Silvia. 2004.
Kohei Saito on Degrowth Communism
Kohei Saito on why degrowth communism is the most promising alternative to capitalism. Future Histories InternationalFind all English episodes of Future Histories here:https://futurehistories-international.com/and subscribe to the Future Histories International RSS-Feed (English episodes only) Shownotes Kohei Saito (University of Tokyo):https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/focus/en/people/k0001_04217.htmlKo
Søren Mau on Planning and Freedom
Søren Mau on how communism can produce freedom through planning. Future Histories InternationalFind all English episodes of Future Histories here:https://futurehistories-international.com/and subscribe to the Future Histories International RSS-Feed (English episodes only) ShownotesSøren Mau:https://sorenmau.com/ Søren auf Twitter:https://twitter.com/sorenmau?lang=de Mau, Søren. 2019. Mute Compuls
George Monbiot on Public Luxury
Public luxury available to all, or private luxury available to some? ShownotesGeorge Monbiot (Website):https://www.monbiot.com/George Monbiot bei X:https://twitter.com/GeorgeMonbiot?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5EauthorCommunia- Zentrum demokratische Wirtschaft (Website):https://communia.de/communia & BUNDjugend (Hrsg.) Öffentlicher Luxus. 2023. Karl Dietz Verlag. (pdf deutsc
Planning for Entropy on Sociometabolic Planning
The research collective 'Planning for Entropy' on how we need to set up our metabolic interaction with nature differently. Shownotes Planning for EntropyPlanning for Entropy. 2022. Democratic Economic Planning, Social Metabolism and the Environment. Science and Society Journal. Vol 82, Nr 2. New York: Guilford Publications:https://guilfordjournals.com/doi/10.1521/siso.2022.86.2.291Laibman, David
Tim Platenkamp on Republican Socialism, General Planning and Parametric Control
Tim Platenkamp fuses the socialist calculation debate with republican thought. Future Histories InternationalFind all English episodes of Future Histories here:https://futurehistories-international.com/and subscribe to the Future Histories International RSS-Feed Shownotes Tim PlatenkampTim Platenkamp (Website):https://timplatenkamp.nl/Platenkamp, Tim. The Constitution of Socialism. Forthcoming:ht
Wendy Brown on Socialist Governmentality
Wendy Brown on the possibility of a socialist governmentality. Shownotes:Wendy Brown at Berkeley:https://polisci.berkeley.edu/150w/wendy-brownWendy Brown at Princeton:https://www.ias.edu/sss/wendy-brownWendy Brown CV:https://www.ias.edu/sites/default/files/Brown%20CV.2021.pdfBrown, W. (2015). Undoing the Demos: Neoliberalism’s stealth revolution. Princeton University Press:https://press.princeton
Andreas Malm on Overshooting into Climate Breakdown
Andreas Malm on "Overshoot: How the World Surrendered to Climate Breakdown", his new book project with Wim Carton (Verso, 2024). Information on the presentation of the Democratic Planning Research Platform (at INDEP event):https://www.indep.network/events/ ShownotesMalm, A., & Carton, W. (2024). Overshoot: How the world surrendered to climate breakdown. Verso Books.https://www.versobooks.com/
Grace Blakeley on Capitalist Planning and its Alternatives
Grace Blakeley on the hidden planning at the heart of capitalism, monopoly power and democratic planning as an alternative.Democratic Planning Research Platform:www.planningresearch.netShownotesBlakeley, G. (2024). Vulture capitalism: Corporate crimes, backdoor bailouts, and the death of freedom. Simon and Schuster.https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Vulture-Capitalism/Grace-Blakeley/978198218
Nancy Fraser on Alternatives to Capitalism
Nancy Fraser discusses her understanding of capitalism as an integrated social order and explores its implications for envisioning a desirable postcapitalism. ---If you are interested in democratic economic planning, these resources might be of help:Democratic planning – an information websitehttps://www.democratic-planning.com/Sorg, C. & Groos, J. (eds.)(2025). Rethinking Economic Planning.
Matt Huber & Kohei Saito on Growth, Progress and Left Imaginaries
Kohei Saito and Matt Huber discuss degrowth communism, socialist ecomodernism and their respective views on growth, natural limits, technology and progress.---If you are interested in democratic economic planning, these resources might be of help:Democratic planning – an information websitehttps://www.democratic-planning.com/Sorg, C. & Groos, J. (eds.)(2025). Rethinking Economic Planning. Com
Jacob Blumenfeld on Climate Barbarism and Managing Decline
Jacob Blumenfeld discusses the concept of “managing decline”, the subject of fossil capitalism and the implications of transitioning away from it.---Info on Creative Construction Book Launch:Date: March 4th, 19hLocation: aquarium am SüdblockSkalitzer Str. 610999 BerlinDeutschlandAbout the book:Groos, J. & Sorg, C. (2025). Creative Construction - Democratic Planning in the 21st Century and Bey
Cecilia Rikap on Intellectual Monopoly Capitalism and Corporate Power in the Age of AI
Cecilia Rikap explains how today’s big tech hegemons build intellectual monopolies and use their power for corporate planning beyond ownership.This episode was recorded during a live event with Cecilia Rikap, hosted by the Rosa-Luxemburg Foundation Berlin. Many thanks to everybody involved!For information on the event, see: https://www.rosalux.de/en/event/es_detail/2MGCX---If you are interested i
Clara E. Mattei on Austerity, Fascism and Authoritarian Liberalism
Clara E. Mattei on the relation between austerity, fascism and authoritarian liberalism.Clara's book is out in German! Find it here:Die Ordnung des Kapitals: Wie Ökonomen die Austerität erfanden und dem Faschismus den Weg bereiteten. Brumaire Verlag.https://shop.jacobin.de/bestellen/clara-mattei-die-ordnung-des-kapitals ShownotesClara E. Mattei’s website:https://www.claramattei.com/Center for Het
Jasper Bernes on Workers' Councils, Labor Time Calculation and the Future of Revolution
Jasper Bernes discusses worker self-organization, labor time accounting and the revolutionary potential of workers' councils. ShownotesJasper’s personal website:https://jasperbernes.net/Jasper at UC Berkeley:https://english.berkeley.edu/people/jasper-bernesCommune Magazine:https://communemag.com/Bernes, J. (2025). The Future of Revolution: Communist Prospects from the Paris Commune to the George
Jan Overwijk on Cybernetic Capitalism and Critical Systems Theory
Jan Overwijk discusses critical systems theory, sociologies of closure and openness, and cybernetic capitalism. ShownotesJan Overwijk at the Frankfurt University Institute for Social Research:https://www.ifs.uni-frankfurt.de/personendetails/jan-overwijk.htmlJan at the University of Humanistic Studies Utrecht:https://www.uvh.nl/university-of-humanistic-studies/contact/search-employees?person=jimxn
Anna Kornbluh on Climate Counteraesthetics
Anna Kornbluh on the prevalence of aesthetic immediacy and why we need climate counteraesthetics.Events (from the introduction):at the Zollo Collective:https://www.instagram.com/zollo.hamburg/?hl=enat La Band Varga:https://labandavaga.org/?page_id=102Rethinking Economics Summer School Switzerland:https://resuso.ch/ ShownotesAnna Kornbluh’s personal website (including all her publications):http://
Jason W. Moore on Socialism in the Web of Life
Jason W. Moore discusses the problematic history of the nature-society divide, his alternative world-ecology approach and the challenges of building socialism. ShownotesJason’s personal website:https://jasonwmoore.com/Jason at Binghamtom University:https://www.binghamton.edu/sociology/faculty/profile.html?id=jwmooreThe World-Ecology Research Collective:https://worldecologynetwork.wordpress.com/ht
Kai Heron, Keir Milburn and Bertie Russell on Radical Abundance
Kai Heron, Keir Milburn and Bertie Russell discuss Radical Abundance, transition and public-commons partnerships. ShownotesHeron, K., Milburn, K., Russell, B. (2025). Radical Abundance. How to Win a Green Democratic Future. Pluto Press.https://www.plutobooks.com/product/radical-abundance/Kai Heron at Lancaster University:https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lec/about-us/people/kai-heronKeir Milburn’s cont
Aaron Benanav | Beyond Capitalism I
Aaron Benanav discusses the first part of his ‘Beyond Capitalism’ essay series in the New Left Review. In this part he lays the groundwork for his proposal of a multi-criterial economy.SASE - Society for the Advancement of Socio-Economics:https://sase.org/SASE Network I: Alternatives to Capitalism (including CfP):https://sase.org/networks/i-alternatives-to-capitalism/ ShownotesAaron at Cornell U
Aaron Benanav | Beyond Capitalism II
Aaron Benanav discusses the second part of his ‘Beyond Capitalism’ essay series in the New Left Review. In this part he lays out the institutional design of his proposal of a multi-criterial economy.ShownotesAaron at Cornell University:https://cals.cornell.edu/people/aaron-benanavAaron’s personal website:https://www.aaronbenanav.com/Access to Aaron's paywalled publications:https://www.aaronbenana
Rabea Berfelde on Socialisation
Rabea Berfelde discusses socialisation, its history and current socialisation movements.Future Histories LIVE.This episode is part of the ‘Future Histories LIVE’ format. For this, individual episodes are recoded live – that is, in front of an audience – at irregular intervals. This episode was recorded on August 6th, during the 2025 Rethinking Economics Summer School Switzerland, titled “Economic
Kim Stanley Robinson on Real Utopian Futures
Kim Stanley Robinson discusses Real Utopian Futures.Find the feed of English episodes only here: https://www.futurehistories-international.com/You can also import the RSS feed to your favorite app: https://www.futurehistories-international.com/feed.xml ShownotesThe reference page on Kim Stanley Robinson, his works, interviews, talks, etc. (including a discussion forum):https://www.kimstanleyrobin
Yanis Varoufakis and Raphael Arar on the Monetary Commons
Yanis Varoufakis and Raphael Arar discuss the Monetary Commons.Find the feed of English episodes only here: https://www.futurehistories-international.com/You can also import the RSS feed to your favorite app: https://www.futurehistories-international.com/feed.xml ShownotesYanis’ website:https://www.yanisvaroufakis.eu/Raphael’s website:https://rarar.com/Iza Romanowska at Aarhus University:https://
Cédric Durand on Ecological Planning
Cédric Durand discusses ecological planning, institutional utopias, and the idea of bifurcation.Find the feed of English episodes only here: https://www.futurehistories-international.com/You can also import the RSS feed to your favorite app: https://www.futurehistories-international.com/feed.xmlShownotesCédric at the University of Geneva (includes a list of his publications):https://www.unige.ch/
Yousaf Nishat-Botero on Ecologies of Planning and Metabolic Municipalism
Yousaf Nishat-Botero on the Ecologies of Planning and Metabolic Municipalism.Shownotes Yousaf Nishat-BoteroDr. Yousaf Nishat-Botero at the University of Birmingham: https://research.birmingham.ac.uk/en/persons/yousaf-nishat-botero/Nishat-Botero, Y. (2023). Planning’s ecologies: Democratic planning in the age of planetary crises. Organization. Special Issue: Public Value, 1-23.https://journals.sag
Rodrigo Nunes on Ecologies of Organization and Democratic Transformation
Rodrigo Nunes on ecologies of organization and democratic transformation. Shownotes Rodrigo NunesDr. Rodrigo Guimaraes Nunes at the University of Essex:https://www.essex.ac.uk/people/NUNES97805/Rodrigo-Guimaraes%20NunesRodrigo Nunes at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio):http://www.fil.puc-rio.br/o-departamento/corpo-docente/rodrigo-guimaraes-nunes/Nunes, R. (2025). Ne
Ho-fung Hung on the Political Economy of China
Ho-fung Hung on the Political Economy of China.Shownotes Ho-fung HungProf. Ho-fung Hung at the Johns Hopkins University:https://soc.jhu.edu/directory/ho-fung-hung/The Conference ‘China and Us: Perspectives on Peace, Human Rights and Socio-Ecological Transformation’:https://www.attac.de/china-konferenz/startseiteHo-fung, H. (2015). The China Boom. Why China Will Not Rule the World. Columbia Univer
Kohei Saito, Christoph Sorg and Jan Groos on Creative Construction and the Struggle over Progress
Kohei Saito, Christoph Sorg and Jan Groos discuss democratic planning in the 21st century. Future Histories LIVE.This episode is part of the ‘Future Histories LIVE’ format. For this, individual episodes are recorded live – that is, in front of an audience – at irregular intervals. This episode is the live recording of a book launch and discussion event that took place on June 11, 2026 at the NACH
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