The Quest for the Sustainable Development Goals
Description
The book presents the experiences, complexities, and contradictions of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in Brazil so far. Through chapters from a variety of stakeholders, the book examines national, regional, and local aspects of development in Brazil. The chapters here draw from scientific knowledge and practical experience to take a critical look at what the SDGs mean in a Global South country and what the implications of this are for global development.
The book is divided into three sections. The first section addresses the critical political and institutional aspects related to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in Brazil, highlighting advances as well as pitfalls and setbacks. The chapters look at broad questions related to the role of civil society in defining political priorities and strategies to move forward with the SDGs as well as issues involved in incorporating the SDGs at different levels of government and other institutions. The chapters in this section critically address the political and institutional advances as well as barriers to the progress of the SDGs in Brazil.
The second section directly addresses progress made toward the SDGs in the context of the political, economic and social variables specific to Brazil. The chapters address critical shortcomings and demands for Brazilian society: the need for improvements in education and employment policies to reduce poverty, the urgent need to increase gender equality and reduce violence, as well as the imperative to strengthen institutions and policies to mitigate climate change and protect the environment.
The final section focuses on critically assessing the 2030 Agenda itself and drawing from a Global South IR perspective. The chapters here dialog with decolonial and post-developmentalist perspectives to highlight problems with the agenda and lift up sidelined priorities, presenting yet-unexamined policy solutions and innovations that are currently absent from the global institutional agenda. The Brazilian case is a perfect illustration of how underdevelopment and political instability can constrain the paths to sustainable development, while at the same time social innovations, leverages based on regional dynamics, and strength from social and cultural diversity can drive sustained progress.
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Thiago Gehre Galvão
PhD in International Relations from the University of Brasília (UnB), with 21 years of experience in teaching, research, outreach activities and educational administration. Member of the Post-Graduate Program of the Institute of International Relations at UnB. Working experience with public policies at the national and subnational levels. Special Advisor in the Federative International Cooperation of the Presidency of the Republic (2011-2012), in the Subcommittee of Federative Affairs of the Institutional Relations Secretariat (SAF/SRI/PR) and the National Population and Development Commission (CNPD) (2012-2015) of the Secretariat for Strategic Affairs of the Presidency of the Republic (SAE/PR). Technical Advisor on the National Commission for the SDG (CNODS) in the General-Secretary of the Presidency of the Republic (SG/PR) (2023). Author of the following books on International Relations: South America: The Brazilian idea in motion (Ed. Juruá 2009), Brazil-Venezuela: a history of partnership (Ed. Fino Traço 2012), International Politics (Ed. Contexto, 2022). Visiting Researcher at Lund University (2019/2020). Co-coordinates the international task force on Education for the Earth System Governance SDGs. Coordinator of the UnB 2030 Strategic Program: Sustainability and Inclusive Development, at the University of Brasília (UnB).
Henrique Zeferino de Menezes
Henrique Menezes is currently a professor at the Department of International Relations and the Postgraduate Program in Political Science and International Relations at the Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB) and a researcher at the National Institute for Studies on the United States (INCT-INEU). My work focuses primarily on sustainable development, international political economy, south-south cooperation, and global health. Recently published the book 'Os Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável e as Relações Internacionais'.