CIVIC LIFE IN AMERICA
Alternative Futures in 2036
Civic Life in America uses foresight methodology to sketch four sharply different paths American civic life could take by 2036 — from participation that becomes frictionless and AI-assisted, to communities that hollow out from the inside, to a country where every citizen has an AI agent working the halls of government on their behalf.
Drawing on 38 expert interviews and secondary research, the report explores how five converging forces could push civic life toward radically different destinations. What future will you build?
Explore Four Futures
Convenient America
Civic life becomes easier to enter, harder to belong to.
The Hollow Republic
Civic life does not disappear — it hollows out.
A Guarded Union
Civic life becomes more rule-bound, both protected and constrained.
Agentic Nation
Civic life acquires a second layer of representation.
Work with Civic Futures Institute
Imagine the democracy worth saving.
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Workshops
Explore alternative futures and identify what they mean for your sector, community, or organization.
Keynote presentations
Give your audience a clear view of the trends and signals reshaping their world.
Strategy sessions
Stress-test your strategy against alternative futures and decide what to protect, change, resist, or build anew.