Critical factors in reaching an ideal society

Abstract The Sustainable Development Goals consist of 17 interconnected global objectives aimed at creating a better and more sustainable future for everyone. This paper examines the factors that shape citizens’ visions of an ideal society across twelve European countries. Understanding that the idea of an ideal society is both aspirational and context-dependent, the study utilises the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach, Collaborative Planning Theory, and Human Ecology Theory to interpret the priorities of citizens. The research analyses various factors, including poverty, safety and security, religious values, immigration policies, longevity, freedom, military strength, inequality, education quality, economic prosperity, birth rates, trust, human rights, democracy, and social connections. Using data from the CROss-National Online Survey 2 (CRONOS-2), the study applies factor analysis to identify correlation patterns among these variables. The results suggest that social well-being and social life have a more significant impact on shaping citizens’ visions of an ideal society than traditional values and security concerns. The research findings suggest that social well-being plays a crucial role in shaping these ideal visions of society. It highlights the importance of implementing policies that aim to improve education, alleviate poverty, safeguard human rights, and foster trust. These results emphasise the crucial role of normative frameworks in promoting sustainable development and are closely aligned with various key Sustainable Development Goals.