The Transformative Capacities of the Sustainable Development Goals: A Comparison Between the Global Critical Literature and Key Development Actors’ Perceptions in Bangladesh

Abstract

AbstractThis chapter presents critiques of the SDGs explored through a comprehensive analysis of the literature on development studies. The criticisms fall under two broad categories: (1) moderate critiques highlighting (i) weak accountability and monitoring systems and (ii) inadequate funding support and (2) radical critiques emphasizing (i) compliance with corporate capitalism and neoliberal policies and (ii) inherent capacity to empower women and enhance gender equality. At the core of the SDGs is the achievement of sustainability, which is strongly correlated to gender equality and women’s empowerment since the root causes of gender inequality are also drivers of unsustainable development. The discussion of SDGs is contextualized by exploring how these goals have been received and perceived by a range of key civil society actors in Bangladesh with a particular focus on gender equality outcomes. For the latter, the chapter draws on the findings of an empirical study undertaken in 2018–2019 into civil society’s engagement with and responses to the development and implementation of SDGs in Bangladesh. The parallels and contrasts between the scholarly views expressed in the literature and the practitioner-activist perspectives as demonstrated in data analysis are discussed. The results provide an important lens through which to critically assess the transformative capacities of SDGs for realizing sustainability and gender equality and women’s empowerment.KeywordsSustainable Development GoalsCivil societyDevelopmentGender equalityWomen’s empowermentNeoliberalismBangladesh