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Promoting Policy Coherence within the 2030 Agenda Framework: Externalities, Trade-Offs and Politics
[journal article]
Abstract The promotion of Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development is one of the 169 targets of the 2030 Agenda, and considered a key means of implementation. The 2030 Agenda, while noble and necessary to put humanity on a sustainable path, has vastly exacerbated the complexity and ambiguity of developme... view more
The promotion of Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development is one of the 169 targets of the 2030 Agenda, and considered a key means of implementation. The 2030 Agenda, while noble and necessary to put humanity on a sustainable path, has vastly exacerbated the complexity and ambiguity of development policymaking. This article challenges two assumptions that are common in both policy discussions and associated scholarly debates: First, the technocratic belief that policy coherence is an authentically attainable objective; and second, whether efforts to improve the coherence within and across policies makes achieving the Sustainable Development Goals more likely. We unpack the conventional 'win-win' understanding of the policy coherence concept to illustrate that fundamentally incompatible political interests continue to shape global development, and that these cannot be managed away. We argue that heuristic, problem-driven frameworks are needed to promote coherence in settings where these fundamental inconsistencies are likely to persist. Instead of mapping synergies ex-ante, future research and policy debates should focus on navigating political trade-offs and hierarchies while confronting the longer-term goal conflicts that reproduce unsustainable policy choices.... view less
Keywords
EU; political agenda; development policy; sustainable development; international agreement; international cooperation
Classification
International Relations, International Politics, Foreign Affairs, Development Policy
Free Keywords
2030 agenda; European Union; Sustainable Development Goals; development policy; policy coherence; policy trade-offs
Document language
English
Publication Year
2021
Page/Pages
p. 108-118
Journal
Politics and Governance, 9 (2021) 1
Issue topic
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Transformative Change through Sustainable Development Goals?
ISSN
2183-2463
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed