How do national and international factors interact in empowering some states of the Global South to make more progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals than other states?
There are a few reasons that some states have been able to make more progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals than others. One that seemed most prevalent was corruption. When discussing other countries with my peers, it seemed that the presence of corruption in government and other institutions was one of the main hindrances toward different countries’ progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Countries like Algeria and Bangladesh, for example, have made little progress toward the goals due to corruption. The country I researched, Turkiye, suffers from corruption in the current administration due to the lack of checks and balances on power. As such, it has been made much more difficult for Turkiye to make progress toward Goal 16, for example. On the other hand, countries like Singapore that have put various measures in place to combat corruption have been able to make more strides toward the goals.
International factors are also important to consider as well. For Turkiye, trade is one of the most important parts of the economy, so its trade partnerships affect the country’s ability to make progress toward the goals. I think it is also important for different countries in the Global South to have good relationships with countries making progress toward sustainable development. As more of these connections form, it will incentivize more countries to make progress. One example that I learned about in the other podcasts was the relationship between Singapore and Malaysia with their clean water agreement. As more relationships like this can form, more progress can be made toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
6 responses to “Achieving the UN Sustainability Goals”
Hi Clara, I also found that corruption plays a huge role in limiting states progress with UN SDGs. Do you think in some countries it is inevitable there will be some form of corruption? And does that mean the progress of certain states will always be hindered?
Hey BJ! I do think corruption will always exist, but I do think that through various institutions and legislative authorities, we can combat it. It would be unrealistic to assert that we can eradicate corruption entirely, so limiting it as much as possible should be the goal. I think that states who choose not to fight corruption will always be hindered, but even countries that do will always face hindrances toward progress. The hindrances of countries fighting corruption, however, will be less than that of other countries, which again, should be the goal.
Well-written blog Clara. I liked how you talked about partnerships and how they can be useful in achieving the UN’s sustainable goals. By forming a partnership with another country they are also doing UN sustainable goal 17 which is building and improving partnerships between countries and international organizations. A question I will ask a question that relates to Turkey and its elections. Do you think the government that will replace Erdogan will be less corrupt or evermore corrupt?
I think it could go either way. I think i will largely come down to where the people’s priorities lie. That said, I think corruption breeds corruption, so it is a difficult cycle to break.
Thank you Clara for this informative post! The issue of corruption is not only a big issue when it comes to nations achieving their SDG’s, but it is also a huge issue when it comes to the wellbeing of the nation. In the case of the SGD’s however I view your description to be on point. If a nation was to achieve their SDG, then the first thing they must do is rid themselves on any existing corruption. In the case of external factors, international aid and enhancing relations particularly economic relations with other countries can also be an important factor in a country achieving their goals. My question to you is, do you believe that nations are capable of ridding themselves of corruption completely, and will they be able to achieve this before 2030?
Before reading Clara’s blog, it was already evident that corruption is a crucial issue many countries face and is a strong indicator of the underdevelopment of certain countries. Based on that point, I further verify that corruption within a country provides enough evidence to explain issues that a country suffers from, such as economic setbacks. However, after reading Clara’s blog, she described corruption as the most dominant issue countries, such as Turkey, Algeria, and Bangladesh, face when aiming to fulfill the UN’s sustainable development goals. Is there a specific correlation between corruption and development, and is there an assessment that measures a country’s corruption levels toward meeting SDG? For example, are developed states like Germany, Japan, the UK, and France more developed than other countries, such as Bangladesh, because they do not suffer from corruption?
In conclusion, is it considered an understatement to describe corruption as the sole reason to represent a developing nation? I am excited to hear your view on these questions, Clara. Finally, thank you for writing such an insightful blog that made me dive into the domestic dimensions of Turkey, Algeria, and Bangladesh and have an idea about their progress toward sustainability.