Preface
Introduction
Overview
Chapter 1: Global goals in search of strategies
A global agreement…
Eradication of poverty in reach
Environmental urgency
Ambitious and flexible goals
…to achieve sustainable development…
A political compromise
Contested issues
…through seventeen goals…
Economic issues
Social issues
Environmental issues
Cross-cutting issues
…without an explicit strategy…
Weak on strategies for implementation
How flexible are the goals?
Weak on compliance
…and in an unclear relation to other global policies…
…but still an example of the art of the possible
References
Chapter 2: A research gap on strategies and implementation
Focus on the implementation of the SDGs
Forward-looking
Connecting policy to research
Africa and developing countries
Questions for the investigation
Are the goals intended to be taken seriously?
Problems with the existing literature
Sustainable development
Theoretical perspectives
Empirical perspectives
Poverty reduction
References
Chapter 3: Refocus from the goals to learning over time
Policy by goals
The role of goals
New Public Management
Another interpretation: A learning policy
Rationalism vs realism
A learning subject
The importance of a program theory, a strategy
Hidden assumptions
A theory of change for sustainable development
Methods and material
References
Chapter 4: An inherent strategy in the goals
The economic dimension
Goal 1: No poverty
Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth
Goal 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
Goal 10: Reduced inequalities
Summary
The social dimension
Goal 2: Zero hunger
Goal 3: Good health and well-being
Goal 4: Quality education
Goal 5: Gender equality
Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation
Goal 7: Affordable and clean energy
Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities
Summary
The environmental dimension
Goal 12: Responsible production and consumption
Goal 13: Climate action
Goal 14: Life below water
Goal 15: Life on land
Summary
Cross-cutting issues
Goal 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions
Goal 17: Partnerships for the goals
Summary
How can we understand the goals as a strategy?
The general strategy
The environmental goals
The social goals
The economic goal
The governance goals
References
Chapter 5. Alternative strategies for Sustainable Development
How can we think about drivers and barriers for sustainable development?
Four questions
Three stylized perspectives
Political debates
Drivers for economic development
Modernization theory vs Dependency theory
Developmental states and global value chains
Drivers for social development
Normative issues
Three perspectives
Drivers for environmental development/protection
Two relationships
Three perspectives
Drivers for the development of governance/state capacity
Failed states
Summary and implications for developing countries
References
Chapter 6: The governance challenge
Good governance as the key to successful implementation of the SDGs
Good governance
Disagreements
Critical perspectives
Developmental neopatrimonialism
Questions
The evidence
Differing methods
Two rival theories
Are the strategies feasible?
Problems with Good Governance
A value-conflict
Conclusions
References
Chapter 7: National strategies of implementation (by Tobias Ogweno)
What is new with the SDGs?
The context of the SDGs
The Voluntary National Reviews
National strategies: different approaches, same destiny
Stakeholder engagement
Integrated governance
Legitimate, innovative and flexible governance
National development plans
Managing the tensions
Citizen engagement with the goals
References
Chapter 8: Conclusions of the study
Summary
Conclusions
The future
References
