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Beyond Goals and Targets: A Critical Reflection on the MDGs, SDGs, and the Missing Link in Global Development

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  • Wasike David

    (Department of Public Administration Faculty of Business and Management (FBM) International University of East Africa (IUEA) Doctoral Student, Faculty of Business and Management (BAM), Uganda Martyrs University-Kampala, Uganda)

Abstract

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have long dominated global development agendas, shaping policies focused on poverty reduction, health, education, and sustainability. However, while these frameworks have succeeded in galvanizing international cooperation and resources, they have been criticized for overlooking the structural drivers of inequality and environmental degradation. This paper critically assesses the MDGs and SDGs, arguing that their focus on measurable targets masks deeper systemic issues, such as the unequal power dynamics inherent in global economic and political structures. Despite some progress, particularly in poverty reduction, the failure to address the root causes of global disparities limits the transformative potential of these frameworks. This analysis explores theoretical and empirical critiques, including the influence of neoliberalism, and proposes a paradigm shift toward a more holistic approach to development—one that prioritizes justice, equity, and ecological sustainability over mere economic growth. By engaging with critical development theory, this paper calls for a reorientation that tackles the political and ecological dimensions of underdevelopment, urging a shift from technocratic solutions to addressing global power imbalances.

Suggested Citation

  • Wasike David, 2025. "Beyond Goals and Targets: A Critical Reflection on the MDGs, SDGs, and the Missing Link in Global Development," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(8), pages 2013-2017, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:bcp:journl:v:9:y:2025:issue-8:p:2013-2017
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Easterly, William, 2009. "How the Millennium Development Goals are Unfair to Africa," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 26-35, January.
    2. Clemens, Michael A. & Kenny, Charles J. & Moss, Todd J., 2007. "The Trouble with the MDGs: Confronting Expectations of Aid and Development Success," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 35(5), pages 735-751, May.
    3. Jason Hickel, 2019. "The contradiction of the sustainable development goals: Growth versus ecology on a finite planet," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(5), pages 873-884, September.
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