DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES IN MUNICIPAL SDGS FROM COLLABORATIVE GOVERNANCE PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Collaborative governance is gaining attention as a model for improving public administration and increasing citizens' trust in government. Over the past two decades, theoretical and empirical studies have considered mechanisms for new forms of governance, and a variety of evidence assures that stakeholders can come together and work cooperatively to solve mutual problems. Existing research indicates that collaborative governance can be a possible alternative to command-and-control or adversarial policymaking and its implementation. In addition, there is interest in research that recognizes the variables that influence collaborative governance outcomes and whether collaboration is successful. These include the initial conditions of a collaborative process and essential elements of collaborative placemaking, such as trust-building and facilitative leadership. This study analyzes the literature on collaborative governance in terms of theoretical and empirical aspects, focusing on municipal SDGs in Japan. The SDGs are aimed at sustainable development in both developed and developing countries, and recently even in Japan, some local governments have been actively working to rethink their existing policies in terms of SDGs. This study examines the drivers, conditions, and challenges of collaborative governance from the perspective of municipal SDGs.