Flipping the Narrative: Rewriting the SDGs from the Global South Perspective

Abstract

This study critically analyzes the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from the perspective of the Global South. I argue that the goals are profoundly influenced by neoliberal capitalism, which is problematic if they are used as a blueprint for global sustainable development. Unbounded economic growth, widespread commodification, and financialization play a central role in marginalizing social equity and pushing ecological sustainability to its limits. This contradiction is addressed. I also maintain that SDGs perpetuate systemic inequalities, exacerbate environmental degradation, and overlook historical responsibility; therefore, I propose seventeen rewritten SDGs. The study’s primary contribution is to develop a systematic reconstruction of the goals from a Global South perspective by building on existing critical literature and integrating diverse traditions into a coherent alternative framework. JEL Classification: B55, O10.