Developing Culture of Equal Opportunities

According to experts, in the next decade the trend of a culture of equal opportunities based on the principle of an unbiased attitude towards people in different social environment will be greatly developed, even though at the moment there are a number of problems hindering this process. The development of a culture of equal opportunities is the main topic of the new issue of trendletters, produced as part of a joint project of the Human Capital Multidisciplinary Research Center and the UNESCO Futures Studies Chair (UNESCO Futures Literacy Chairs network).

For reference:  This series of trendletters continues the practice of publishing reviews of global technological trends since 2014 and presents a unique database of global trends and challenges in the field of human development. This research of the HSE ISSEK is based on the results of iFORA Big Data System, the Delphi survey (with the participation of more than 400 leading foreign and Russian scientists), expert sessions and interviews.  

The development of a culture that promotes equal opportunities for all individuals, regardless of their ethnicity, social background, age or minority status, is stimulated by such drivers as demographic changes, accelerated migration processes, economic factors, etc. Additionally, recent events have highlighted the importance of addressing issues related to equality and diversity thar affect people from different ethnic or national backgrounds. 

These drivers contribute not only to the development of a culture of equal opportunity, but also to the emergence of new opportunities to promote inclusivity. For example, this may be important for people with disabilities that are still able to work (about 80% of people with disabilities between the ages of 18 and 64). This trend can also have a positive impact on the development of a culture of equality and diversity in the corporate environment, for example, through measures to increase women's participation.  

These problems not only hinder the development of a culture of equal opportunities, but also contribute to the politicization of issues related to national, ethnic, religious, linguistic, and gender identities, as well as to the spread of stereotypes. 

The new issue of trendletter (Russian version) is available at the link.

Previous issues of trendletters can be found here.