Although visible trends are interesting from a social point of view, the AFI is far more concerned to understand the inherent tectonic forces shaping reality at a worldview level, the fundamental causes of collective behaviour, and the future consequences for our civilization.

Because of this emphasis we continuously monitor the deep-time structural patterns we have identified as significant in transforming our society from industrial economism to a more connected society, as well as the embedded assumptions and beliefs that lead to us perceiving them this way. We are also concerned to bring a distinctly "asian hemisphere" mindset and expression to world debate, thus counterbalancing the dominant US and Eurocentric cultural assumptions underpinning most international policy initiatives and responses.

At this level we are currently monitoring the interaction and convergence of several drivers, including technology & production; cultural fusion; stresses on the biosphere; geopolitical tensions; networks; the world of work and leisure; and the financial structures underpinning the system of global monetocracy.

Within these broad knowledge domains we have focused our research activities intensively on a few pulse points including:

• The science of networks and small world phenomena
• The future of leadership in a connected society
• Cybernetic governance as an alternative to bureaucracy
• Living systems as models for organizing and designing
• Business ecosystems and the future of business
• The convergence of digital and genomic codes
• Biofutures and microtechnology
• The future of learning
• Information and communication technologies & practices
• The metalanguages shaping current worldviews
• Generational & intercultural knowledge in Asia
• Emerging global geopolitical systems
• The science and politics of climate change