Governing for Sustainable Development

This textbook explores the meaning of good governance and sustainable development in the present-day context of a growing planetary crisis, socio-economic polarisation, and politicisation of knowledge.

Part 1 sets the stage by exploring theories of power, network governance, and global governance. Meri Juntti contrasts prevalent and emerging framings to arrive at a definition of sustainable development as a transformation encompassing the economic system, societal values, and the relationship of humanity with nature, and identifies distinct approaches and solutions for advancing this. Part 2 delves into the twin global issues of climate change and food security. Their drivers and manifestations are examined in detail and a range of governance responses – from global strategies and policies through to local-level case studies – are explored in the light of earlier theorisations. Part 3 focuses on lessons for good governance and sets out five key challenges that governance for sustainable development needs to negotiate, as well as the four principles that are central to its success. A concluding chapter considers what good governance for sustainable development could mean in practice.

Balancing theory with real-world examples, and featuring learning outcomes, further reading, and links to relevant media content, Governing for Sustainable Development will be a highly valuable resource for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students of sustainable development, geography, public policy, politics, and international relations.

Meri Juntti, PhD, SFHEA, is Associate Professor of Environmental Governance in the School of Law and Social Sciences at Middlesex University, UK. She has co-designed and presently leads an MA Programme (MA Global Governance and Sustainable Development), co-leads the Sustainable Development Research Cluster, and chairs the University’s Sustainability Steering Group. She has undertaken a number of externally funded research projects in the field of environmental governance and has published several single and co-authored publications in this area. Dr Juntti holds an honorary position at the Bartlett School of Planning, UCL, and is a Trustee of the London Development Trust.