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# Covert Contact 49: Developing and Leveraging Strategic Foresight
- URL: https://johnwlittle.com/developing-and-leveraging-strategic-foresight/
- Published: 2016-06-11T05:37:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-17T18:50:25.000Z
- Description: Mathew Burrows joins me to discuss strategic foresight, the challenges of forecasting, and the role fiction writers and artists can play in the process.
- Author: John Little
- Tags: Covert Contact, Podcast, Interviews, Forecasting, Intelligence, Mathew Burrows

I was recently in Washington D.C. and one of the highlights of the trip was meeting [Dr. Mathew Burrows](http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/about/experts/list/mathew-j-burrows?ref=johnwlittle.com#fullbio). Dr. Burrows is the Director of the [Strategic Foresight Initiative](http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/programs/brent-scowcroft-center/strategic-foresight?ref=johnwlittle.com) in the [Atlantic Council’s](http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/?ref=johnwlittle.com) [Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security](http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/programs/brent-scowcroft-center/about-the-center?ref=johnwlittle.com).

Dr. Burrows spent many years at the [CIA](https://www.cia.gov/index.html?ref=johnwlittle.com) and [National Intelligence Council](https://www.dni.gov/index.php/about/organization/national-intelligence-council-who-we-are?ref=johnwlittle.com) where he was the principal drafter of the highly regarded [Global Trends Report](https://www.dni.gov/index.php/about/organization/national-intelligence-council-global-trends?ref=johnwlittle.com). He continues to lead this same type of forecasting in his role at the Atlantic Council.

In this episode we discuss the importance of forecasting, the challenges inherent in it, and how fiction writers and artists can play a key role in the process. Along the way we dig into some of the key drivers, such as technology, that will weigh heavily in the next report.

The process and final product are fascinating and it gets even more interesting because it’s open to input from all through a [contest](http://artoffuturewarfare.org/featured-challenge/?ref=johnwlittle.com) hosted by [The Art Of The Future Project](http://artoffuturewarfare.org/about/?ref=johnwlittle.com).

You can follow Mat on Twitter [@MatBurrows](https://twitter.com/matburrows?ref=johnwlittle.com).