This contribution examines the tension between political inclusion and informal hierarchy found in the Hybrid Institutional Complex (HIC) for sustainable development. By drawing attention to the managerial logic underpinning the making of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), I highlight how increased inclusion leads to weaker obligations and institutional fragmentation if not simultaneously accompanied by proper resourcing of governance orchestrators such as the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF). However, I argue that the SDGs have been successful at the level of ‘metagovernance’, specifically in reshaping the meaning of political inclusion within global governance. The growing emphasis on quantitative metrics and disaggregated data has shifted what counts as meaningful inclusion from having a seat at the table to translating political demands into measurable indicators. I use the human rights community to explore these dynamics. The analysis concludes with policy recommendations for state and civil society actors about strengthening coordination, balancing metrics with normative appeals and more radical democratic politics, and carefully balancing the utility of big data with other ethical concerns.
Photo by Pille Kirsi