Guest lecture: Reading the SDGs through the lens of politics

Prof. Dan Banik, co-lead of the Aura-Guild Cluster of Research Excellence: The Politics of Sustainable Development delivered a lecture at the University of Pretoria on the 20th of September. Prof. Banik also serves as an Extraordinary Professor at UP’s Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences.

The lecture explored the intricate relationship between politics and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), shedding light on the optimism that accompanied their adoption in 2015. He reflected on the global ambition to integrate development, environmental sustainability, and climate action but noted the uneven progress due to political complexities.

Prof. Banik critiqued the “win-win” narrative often associated with sustainable development, arguing that it oversimplifies the inherent trade-offs and political challenges at both national and global levels. This oversimplification, he explained, hinders meaningful progress, as it fails to address the political realities shaping the implementation of the SDGs.

Using case studies from China, India, and Rwanda, Prof. Banik illustrated how political leaders have aligned the SDGs with national agendas, often leveraging them for political gains rather than genuine sustainability efforts. He also highlighted the limited engagement of mainstream political parties in advancing sustainable development, contrasting this with the growing enthusiasm of civil society and youth movements.

The lecture concluded with a vibrant Q&A session, where participants explored issues such as collective action, the role of the private sector, and the balancing act between sustainability and national priorities. Prof. Banik emphasized the importance of addressing political trade-offs and fostering ongoing dialogue to make tangible progress on the SDGs.