The Sustainable Development Goals and Laudato si': varieties of Post-Development?

Comparing the Agenda 2030 of the United Nations and the Laudato si' by the Pope, both authored in 2015, one point stands out: the Development enthusiasm of the twentieth century is gone. In its place, we are now dealing with the demise of expansive modernity. The motto of the previous century (...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThird world quarterly Vol. 38; no. 12; pp. 2573 - 2587
Main Author Sachs, Wolfgang
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published London Routledge 02.12.2017
Taylor & Francis, Ltd
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Subjects
20th century
Capitalism
Economic models
Environmental economics
Ethics
Hegemony
Iron
Modernity
Post-development
Postcapitalism
Prayer
religion
Sustainable development
United Nations
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Summary:Comparing the Agenda 2030 of the United Nations and the Laudato si' by the Pope, both authored in 2015, one point stands out: the Development enthusiasm of the twentieth century is gone. In its place, we are now dealing with the demise of expansive modernity. The motto of the previous century (playing on words of the Lord's Prayer), 'on Earth as in the West', now seems like a threat. The world is in crisis roundabout: the biosphere is being shattered and, in more ways than one, the gap between the rich and the poor is widening. While both publications agree that the global economic model can now be considered old iron, there are equally significant differences. While the Agenda 2030 seeks to repair the existing global economic model significantly, the encyclical calls for a pushing back of economic hegemony and for more ethical responsibility on all levels. While the Agenda 2030 envisions a green economy with social democratic hues, the encyclical foresees a post capitalist-era, based on a cultural shift towards eco-solidarity.
ISSN:0143-6597
1360-2241
DOI:10.1080/01436597.2017.1350822