Global Strategic Trends: Out to 2055
This publication describes the future global strategic context, offering tools to test assumptions and prepare for an uncertain world.
- From:
- Ministry of Defence
- Published
- 27 September 2024
- Last updated
- 18 September 2025 — See all updates
Documents
Global Strategic Trends: Out to 2055
PDF, 71.773 MB, 456 pages
Bite-size summary, Global Strategic Trends: Out to 2055
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Details
Global Strategic Trends: Out to 2055 (Seventh Edition) (GST 7) offers foresight analysis from a thematic and geographic perspective, complemented by five scenarios which describe hypotheticalillustrative pathways into a future world order. order.
The publication identifies six global key drivers of change, connected in turn to 22 underlying trends that can be observed today, and which are likely to shape the coming decades. Taken together, these drivers represent a complex set of dynamics which serve to influence, counteract or accelerate each other, often in unexpected ways. ways.
Find out more by watching our videos:
Global Strategic Trends: six global drivers shaping our world out to 2055 - YouTube
Global Strategic Trends: five alternative futures that could redefine our world
Who should read this publication
This publication portrays a future strategic context for those involved in developing long-term plans, strategies, policies and capabilities in the Ministry of Defence and wider government, as well as for the UK’s allies and partners. It will be an important body of evidence for the recently announced Strategic Defence Review.
By describing the key drivers of change and illustrating alternative outcomes, it helps to test assumptions and prepare for an uncertain world. Without context, there is a risk that planners, policy makers and capability developers will assume a future that conforms to preconceived ideas and assumptions.
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Updates to this page
Published 27 September 2024
Last updated 18 September 2025
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-
FOE 35 removed.
-
First published.
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Details
Global Strategic Trends: Out to 2055 (Seventh Edition) (GST 7) offers foresight analysis from a thematic and geographic perspective, complemented by five scenarios which describe hypotheticalillustrative pathways into a future world order. order.
The publication identifies six global key drivers of change, connected in turn to 22 underlying trends that can be observed today, and which are likely to shape the coming decades. Taken together, these drivers represent a complex set of dynamics which serve to influence, counteract or accelerate each other, often in unexpected ways. ways.
Find out more by watching our videos:
Global Strategic Trends: six global drivers shaping our world out to 2055 - YouTube
Global Strategic Trends: five alternative futures that could redefine our world
Who should read this publication
This publication portrays a future strategic context for those involved in developing long-term plans, strategies, policies and capabilities in the Ministry of Defence and wider government, as well as for the UK’s allies and partners. It will be an important body of evidence for the recently announced Strategic Defence Review.
By describing the key drivers of change and illustrating alternative outcomes, it helps to test assumptions and prepare for an uncertain world. Without context, there is a risk that planners, policy makers and capability developers will assume a future that conforms to preconceived ideas and assumptions.
YouRelated mayinformation
Updates to this page
-
FOE 35 removed.
-
First published.
Sign up for emails or print this page
Update history
2025-09-18 13:29
FOE 35 removed.
2024-09-27 16:00
First published.