ABSTRACT
The MDGs, which began life at the turn of the century, are the focus of attention among people for different reasons. Some are concerned with the past to review progress. Some concentrate on the present to consider the implications of the financial crisis and the Great Recession in the world economy. Some think about the future and how to traverse the remaining distance. The conjuncture is obviously important and so are the reasons. But the object of this chapter is different. It seeks to discuss MDGs in prospect rather than retrospect. The object is to reflect on possibilities and options beyond 2015. The structure of the discussion is as follows. First, it sets the stage before the play begins. In doing so, it begins with the origins and significance of MDGs to highlight why they are the object of attention once again. Second, it attempts an evaluation of MDGs. It provides a critical assessment of the conception and design of MDGs. Third, it contemplates the future. It discusses options beyond 2015 in terms of possible choices to explore the necessary and desirable contours of change, which could be the foundations of a modified or alternative framework. Fourth, it examines what developing countries could do in their respective national contexts for the pursuit and attainment of development objectives embedded in the MDGs. The next section is about the international context, where the focus has been narrow and the progress has been slow so far. It highlights possibilities of change for the better, but argues for a different approach and framework which would be conducive for development. The final section concludes.
