RCIS

Abstract:

The article explores the relationship between geopolitical security and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in countries with different levels of economic development, with a special focus on transition economies. Geopolitical security is assessed through the Voice and Accountability, Control of Corruption and Government Effectiveness indicators from the World Governance Indicators (WGI) 2023, while progress on the SDGs is measured by the SDG Index Score and individual goal scores from the Sustainable Development Report 2024. Using a multi-level methodology that combines quantitative and qualitative methods, the study finds a strong positive correlation (r=0.78, p<0.01) between political stability, including civil liberties, and overall SDG progress. Countries with high Voice and Accountability scores, such as Finland (1.6326, SDG 86.8) and Denmark (1.6647, SDG 85.7), are leading the way, while countries with low scores, such as Afghanistan (-1.8529, SDG 49.0), are lagging far behind. Regression analysis based on the corresponding model confirms the significant impact of controlling corruption on Goal 16 (Peace, justice and strong institutions, β1=0.65β1=0.65, p<0.01) and Goal 8 (Decent work, β1=0.38β1=0.38, p<0.01), as well as good governance on Goal 3 (Health, β2=0.42β2=0.42, p<0.01). A qualitative analysis of transition countries such as Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, and Kazakhstan shows that governance reforms, including anti-corruption measures, EU integration, and judicial reforms, contribute to SDG progress despite limited civil liberties. For example, Ukraine (SDG 76.5) and Moldova (SDG 78.6) perform better than expected on their Voice and Accountability indicators. The thematic analysis of the reports and the content analysis of public sentiment emphasize the importance of combining domestic reforms with international support. The results show that sustainable development strategies in transition countries should focus on strengthening civil liberties, digitalizing government services, and engaging the public. The study fills a gap in the literature by offering differentiated recommendations for countries with different institutional contexts, and lays the groundwork for further analysis of the long-term dynamics of geopolitical security and the SDGs.

Keywords:

geopolitical security; Sustainable Development Goals; political stability; control of corruption; governance effectiveness; transition countries; voice and accountability; SDG Index Score.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33788/rcis.89.3

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