ABSTRACT
This thematic chapter first explores how legitimation attempts initiated at the global level played out in the cases of Ghana, Tanzania, and Sweden before 2015. We find that legitimation strategies based on input-related legitimacy sources prevailed in the global setting, reinforced by substance-based sources. The dominant way of distinguishing between legitimation audiences was in terms of stakeholders rather than citizens, voters, or political constituencies. While there is great awareness that the SDGs are the result of political compromise, our interviews indicate that political and civil society elites perceive these goals as legitimate policy tools. The second part of the chapter finds less active legitimation domestically as compared to the global setting before 2015. Substance-based legitimation strategies of adaptation and localisation of the SDGs predominate while it has taken time to spread knowledge about the goals. Parliaments have only to a limited degree been involved in national level 2030 Agenda processes. Among the general public, knowledge on the SDGs does not appear to be widespread, but increasing. The antithesis of legitimation in the SDG case is thus far neglect or ignorance rather than outright delegitimation.
