A1 Journal article (refereed)
Interpreting the Sustainable Development Goals through the Perspectives of Utopia and Governance (2021)
Eskelinen, T. (2021). Interpreting the Sustainable Development Goals through the Perspectives of Utopia and Governance. Forum for Development Studies, 48(2), 179-197. https://doi.org/10.1080/08039410.2020.1867889
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Eskelinen, Teppo
Journal or series: Forum for Development Studies
ISSN: 0803-9410
eISSN: 1891-1765
Publication year: 2021
Publication date: 14/01/2021
Volume: 48
Issue number: 2
Pages range: 179-197
Publisher: Routledge
Publication country: United Kingdom
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08039410.2020.1867889
Publication open access: Openly available
Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/74036
Abstract
The article analyses the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from the perspective of their self-understanding of political sense expressed in key SDG documents, including both UN documents and reports produced by individual countries. Utopia and governance are presented as ideal-typical approaches and analytical tools for qualitative content analysis. This approach is argued to be particularly illuminating in the case of politics of international development, as international development is simultaneously highly utopian and deeply embedded in rationalities of governance. As this analytical framework is applied to the SDGs, it is shown that their utopian pronouncements are related to the idea of humanity as a single subject, as well as inclusive prosperity. On the other hand, the SDGs are curtailed by adherence to the ideas of contemporary governance, the international order and given ideas of development economics. The findings and the methodology are then further discussed in the broader context of international development.
Keywords: sustainable development; target programmes; utopias; international organisations; development policy; development research
Free keywords: sustainable development goals; utopia; governance; United Nations; international development; document analysis
Contributing organizations
Ministry reporting: Yes
Reporting Year: 2021
JUFO rating: 1