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Common But Differentiated Governance: A Metagovernance Approach to Make the SDGs Work

Author

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  • Louis Meuleman

    (Department of Governance Studies, VU University, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    Center for Governance and Sustainability of the University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Ingeborg Niestroy

    (International Institute for Sustainable Development, Ottawa, ON K1P 5Z9, Canada
    Environmental Policy Research Centre (FFU), Free University of Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

The implementation of the common and universally applicable United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires differentiated governance frameworks at all levels, as it falls short to use one governance style only—hierarchical, network or market governance—or any one style combination that is believed to be fit-for-all-purposes. The article introduces the guiding principle of “Common But Differentiated Governance” (CBDG) and illustrates how this principle can make the SDGs work. It will be shown that, after more than 15 years’ experience with the concept of “metagovernance” (how to combine different governance styles into successful governance frameworks), there seems to be some convergence towards using this as comprehensive approach to achieve situationally appropriate governance frameworks. In this article, we have elaborated how policy makers could use metagovernance, combined with key governance principles, as mechanism to support analysis, design and management of SDG governance frameworks, to make failures noticed, and to suggest mitigation measures. Metagovernance respects common principles like rule of law, but takes as starting point that there may be different pathways to achieve them. A possible step-by-step approach for SDG implementation with metagovernance is proposed, as well as establishing governance support arrangements to assist process design, review, monitoring and evaluation, at least at the national level.

Suggested Citation

  • Louis Meuleman & Ingeborg Niestroy, 2015. "Common But Differentiated Governance: A Metagovernance Approach to Make the SDGs Work," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(9), pages 1-27, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:7:y:2015:i:9:p:12295-12321:d:55498
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Maarten Hajer & Måns Nilsson & Kate Raworth & Peter Bakker & Frans Berkhout & Yvo De Boer & Johan Rockström & Kathrin Ludwig & Marcel Kok, 2015. "Beyond Cockpit-ism: Four Insights to Enhance the Transformative Potential of the Sustainable Development Goals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(2), pages 1-10, February.
    2. Hans B. Thorelli, 1986. "Networks: Between markets and hierarchies," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 7(1), pages 37-51, January.
    3. Stamatios Christopoulos & Balazs Horvath & Michael Kull, 2012. "Advancing The Governance Of Cross‐Sectoral Policies For Sustainable Development: A Metagovernance Perspective," Public Administration & Development, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 32(3), pages 305-323, August.
    4. Måns Nilsson & Paul Lucas & Tetsuro Yoshida, 2013. "Towards an Integrated Framework for SDGs: Ultimate and Enabling Goals for the Case of Energy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 5(10), pages 1-28, September.
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