Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Caribbean: Unrealizable promises?

Abstract

This article analyses the relevance of the SDGs to the needs of the Small Islands Developing States of the Caribbean Community. The article situates the SDGs within a critical interrogation of the social change logic of the universalizing global economic system. Thus, I argue that the SDGs, while recognizing some key economic and environmental concerns of the Caribbean Community, are hamstrung by their commitment to the unequal power structure of the neoliberal capitalist development model. Finally, this article calls upon regional and global social movements, and increased economic regionalism as ways of empowering Caribbean social change.

Ranking the sustainable development goals: perceived sustainability priorities in small island states

“…While such thematic connections may clarify the interrelatedness of the SDGs across Domains, their effectiveness will partly depend on the extent to which these themes resonate within the local geographical and historical context (Mercer et al 2012;Leotaud and Cadiz 2013;Eppinga et al 2019;Fuldauer et al 2019). Small Island States are faced with unique sets of sustainability challenges, which not only emphasize the need to recognize the interdependencies between the SDGs, but also the need for transformations that are compatible with the opportunities and constraints within the specific SIS considered (Leotaud and Cadiz 2013;Ballayram 2017;Brissett 2018). For example, transitioning toward a green economy was a theme that featured prominently in the discussions leading up to the formulation of the SDGs, with Seychelles emphasizing how the economies of SIS rely heavily on oceans-adjusting the concept towards the blue economy (Nhamo et al 2020).…”

The new ‘bond-age’, climate crisis and the case for climate reparations: Unpicking old/new colonialities of finance for development within the SDGs

“…In the process to devise new financing arrangements, developing countries were however largely marginalized in the Addis Ababa Financing for Development framework especially small islands nations such as those in the Caribbean which are considered middle income. Despite these countries' continued marginalization in the global economy and extreme exposure to climate change, they no longer qualify for concessional loans or ODA financing, and fiscal resources were tied up to debt payments and servicing to meet their own development challenges (Bourne, 2015;Brissett, 2018).…”

Adding new “C”s to our lexicon when considering the future of comparative education research: Complexity, care, and caution

“…Sometimes, as I did with the research project in Egypt, we rush into a research study without fully understanding our positionality in and with the research. Sustainable change is often best pursued through locally and regionally driven efforts that identify relevant issues and leveraging the assets on the ground to make that innovative change happen (Brissett, 2018). Thus, a caution for those of who live in the global North, is to be particularly and fully aware of engaging in research in the global South or with Indigenous communities in our contexts.…”