Re-branding Britain: Sociology, futures and futurology

This paper argues that notions of the future and social change have been ce ntral to the sociological enterprise since its inception. However, sociolog y developed with the modern project and the rise of nation-states. This is reflected in the way that sociology has consistently taken for granted the geography of the nation-state as a basic organising principle for the under standing of social formations, producing 'national' sociologies. Thus, whil e providing a view of Britain in 2025, this paper also asks questions about the imaginary that constitutes Britain and the ways in which it will be re -visioned as part of the 'global cosmopolitan society: This re-visioning is not, however, the preserve of sociology and the paper elaborates popular i maginaries on the future of Britain. A recurring theme within visions of th e future is the binary between utopias and dystopias, reframed in relation to the impact of new technologies and discussions of cyberspace. The paper examines the impact of these debates on the sociological imagination and th e future of the sociological enterprise.