Social Inequality and Exclusion: The Importance of an SDG (Goal 18) to Combat Structural Racism

Objective: This study proposes a reflection on structural racism, examining how the social construction of race—together with prejudice and exclusion—has shaped public policies, institutional practices, and collective imaginaries, highlighting the urgency of a stronger global commitment to racial equity. Theoretical Framework: It brings together concepts on the social construction of race, prejudice, and exclusion, offering a critical foundation for understanding structural racism and reinforcing the urgency of an SDG 18 aimed at promoting racial equity. Method: This research is based on a literature review, with categorical content analysis organized into four key pillars. Results and Discussion: The study highlights the importance of four proposed pillars as central strategies to combat structural racism through the creation of an SDG 18. Institutional accountability ensures government commitment; racial indicators enable effective monitoring of inequalities; permanent affirmative policies provide ongoing responses to historical injustices; and the valorization of racialized cultures promotes diversity as a foundation for sustainable development. Together, these pillars strengthen social justice on national and global scales. Research Implications: The research contributes by deepening the debate on structural racism, supporting the value of a future SDG 18, and encouraging the development of more inclusive and anti-racist global agendas. Originality/Value: The originality lies in connecting the debate on structural racism with the proposal to create a new SDG—SDG 18—positioning racial equity as a central axis of sustainable development and global justice.