Policy Capacity, Design and the Sustainable Development Goals: Wicked Problems in Uncertain Environments

While the utopian vision set by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals is certainly one worth striving for, it is no secret that many academics, practitioners and world leaders alike have struggled to navigate the intrinsic complexities of the SDGs and put them into practice. Policymakers face numerous challenges in moving ahead, creating wicked policy problems such as having multiple goals and targets that can sometimes contradict each other. Defining problems clearly and reaching a consensus on them is difficult, and there are no agreed criteria for prioritization. These challenges may be slowing down our progress.

Focusing on pragmatic measures and implementation strategies for overcoming these barriers, Policy Capacity, Design and the Sustainable Development Goals collates a series of case studies that illustrate the complex challenges that can prevent the achievement of the SDGs. Chapters explore the theoretical and practical background needed to tackle sustainable development policies, including the additional administrative and policy capacities required for effective policymaking.

Providing a cross-cutting contribution for the achievement of the 2030 Goals, this edited collection offers essential guidance for transforming the SDGs from agenda to reality.

Andrea Lippi is Professor of Political Science at the University of Florence and Coordinator of the Department of Public Policy and Governance at the National School of Administration (SNA), Italy.

Theodore N. Tsekos is Professor of Public Administration in the Department of Business and Public Administration at the University of Peloponnese, Greece, as well as Director at the Institute of Political Research, National Center of Social Research (ΕΚΚΕ), Greece.