Foliations by constant mean curvature hypersurfaces provide a possibility of
defining a preferred time coordinate in general relativity. In the following
various conjectures are made about the existence of foliations of this kind in
spacetimes satisfying the strong energy condition and possessing compact Cauchy
hypersurfaces. Recent progress on proving these conjectures under supplementary
assumptions is reviewed. The method of proof used is explained and the
prospects for generalizing it discussed. The relations of these questions to
cosmic censorship and the closed universe recollapse conjecture are pointed
out.Comment: 11 pages. Contribution to the Journees Relativiste
