Achieving sustainable development through developmental states in the 21st century
| Author | M. Shamsul Haque |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/00208523231164360 |
| Published date | 01 June 2023 |
| Date | 01 June 2023 |
| Subject Matter | Braibant Lecture |
Achieving sustainable
development through
developmental states
in the 21st century
M. Shamsul Haque
National University of Singapore, Singapore
Abstract
This paper explores the growing significance of sustainable development evident in
recent global concerns for the worsening conditions of environmental degradation
and natural disasters. Despite the massive proliferation of international conventions,
regional agreements, and national–local initiatives and the creation of numerous institu-
tions at all levels, there are relatively disappointing outcomes regarding environmental
sustainability. Next, the paper examines the main causes of such environmental under-
performance, highlights the needs for making appropriate institutional choices, and
emphasizes the central role of the state as the leading stakeholder in dealing with envir-
onmental governance. Finally, among the major formations of the state, it draws atten-
tion to the comparative advantages of the developmental state in terms of its
composition, autonomy, embeddedness, and capacity and highlights its potential for
more effective performance to achieve sustainable development.
Keywords
developmental state, environmental degradation, environmental governance, sustainable
development
Preamble
It is an honour to present this paper in the name of Guy Braibant (1927–2008), who is
remembered for his excellence in professional and academic services in the field of
Corresponding author:
M. Shamsul Haque, Department of Political Science, National University of Singapore, 117573, Singapore.
Email: polhaque@nus.edu.sg
Braibant Lecture
International
Review of
Administrative
Sciences
International Review of Administrative
Sciences
2023, Vol. 89(2) 315–329
© The Author(s) 2023
Article reuse guidelines:
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DOI: 10.1177/00208523231164360
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