{"title":"‘Sustainable’ Discourse: A Critical Analysis of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development","authors":"Mohammad Ala-Uddin","doi":"10.1177/1326365X19881515","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Sustainability is a catchphrase in contemporary theory and practice of international development. It has become an epicentre of development debate following the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 by the United Nations (UN). Many view the new set of goals as a significant step in the field of development, but scholars and practitioners still grapple with reaching a consensus on a common definition of sustainability. This article problematizes the notion and theoretical underpinning of sustainability. The author focusses on the discursive practices that played a dominant role in shaping the conception of sustainability, especially within the formation of the SDGs. Using the three-dimensional analytical framework of discourse studies outlined by Fairclough (1995, Critical discourse analysis, Boston, MA: Addison Wesley), the author interprets the text of the SDGs at micro level (discourse), meso level (discursive practices) and macro level (discursive events).","PeriodicalId":43557,"journal":{"name":"Asia Pacific Media Educator","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0000,"publicationDate":"2019-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1177/1326365X19881515","citationCount":"8","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Asia Pacific Media Educator","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1177/1326365X19881515","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"Social Sciences","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 8
Abstract
Sustainability is a catchphrase in contemporary theory and practice of international development. It has become an epicentre of development debate following the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 by the United Nations (UN). Many view the new set of goals as a significant step in the field of development, but scholars and practitioners still grapple with reaching a consensus on a common definition of sustainability. This article problematizes the notion and theoretical underpinning of sustainability. The author focusses on the discursive practices that played a dominant role in shaping the conception of sustainability, especially within the formation of the SDGs. Using the three-dimensional analytical framework of discourse studies outlined by Fairclough (1995, Critical discourse analysis, Boston, MA: Addison Wesley), the author interprets the text of the SDGs at micro level (discourse), meso level (discursive practices) and macro level (discursive events).
期刊介绍:
Asia Pacific Media Educator is an international refereed journal published twice a year by SAGE Publications (New Delhi) in collaboration with the School of the Arts, English and Media, Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts, University of Wollongong in Australia. The journal follows international norms and procedures of blind peer reviewing by scholars representing a wide range of multi-disciplinary areas. APME focuses on generating discussions and dialogues among media educators, researchers and journalists. Content ranges from critical commentaries and essays to research reports and papers that contribute to journalism theory development and offer innovative ideas in improving the standard and currency of media reportage, teaching and training specific to the Asia Pacific region. Papers that integrate media theories with applications to professional practice, media training and journalism education are usually selected for peer review. APME also carries a Q&A section with book authors. APME takes conventional book reviews to a more creative level where reviewers directly engage with authors to understand the process that authors take in researching and writing the book, clarify their assumptions and pose critical questions.