New book explores indigeneity, culture and the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Dominic O’Sullivan (pictured), Professor in Political Science at Charles Sturt University, has critically analysed the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in his book Indigeneity, Culture and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. His work, the first to critique the SDGs from an indigenous perspective, argues that these global goals are compromised by their lack of attention to culture and political context, limiting indigenous peoples’ ability to define their own criteria for not being “left behind”.

O’Sullivan suggests that the SDGs need to incorporate indigenous perspectives, particularly through the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, to truly support self-determination. Drawing on examples from Australia, Canada and New Zealand, he proposes new indicators for each of the 17 SDGs to better align them with the needs of indigenous communities in liberal democracies. The book emphasises the importance of indigenous agency and leadership in state policy processes to ensure true inclusion.

The book was launched by Professor Stan Grant Jnr in Canberra in July 2023.