The Reflection of Good Governance in Sustainable Development Strategies

In a society still in search for solutions for sustainable development, good governance has always been recognized to be a critical tool for advancing sustainable development and a crucial element to be incorporated in sustainable development strategies. In this context, through its strategic mechanisms, good governance contributes to engagement for long-term commitment and strategic objectives, to policy coherence through vertical and horizontal coordination, to an open, transparent process of involving and consulting stakeholders and to bringing sustainable development strategies closer to local communities, to people. In this context of analysis, we propose a research, using as methodology the thematic content analysis, on how good governance is reflected in EU countries sustainable development strategies. The research results point out that there are well-functioning strategic mechanisms in respect to the investigated issues, but more concern, involvement and interest are necessary to enhance vertical coordination mechanisms, to disseminate good practices about public consultation processes and to bring sustainable development strategies closer to lo people, in forms they can understand and use to change their behavior to a more sustainable one. The research may be particularly important for both researchers and policy makers and offers opportunities for future studies on the subject.