Aligning Iran's Legislation with Sustainable Development Goals: A Topic Modeling Approach

This study examines the extent to which national legislation in Iran aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the framework of Multi-Level Governance (MLG). Employing a mixed-method computational approach—combining thematic analysis and topic modeling—the research explores the argumentative and content structures of legislative texts. Findings reveal partial alignment in areas such as education, health, and environmental protection, while significant gaps remain in community empowerment, gender equality, climate action, and participatory governance. From a policy perspective, the study highlights the need to revise legislative processes to systematically integrate SDG principles, establish mechanisms for assessing legal compatibility with SDG indicators, and build the capacity of lawmakers. It also emphasizes the importance of enhancing the participation of local institutions and civil society in the legislative process and recommends developing data-driven platforms for continuous monitoring of legal alignment with the SDGs. Theoretically, the study contributes to the application of the MLG framework in legal and development studies by offering empirical insights into the interplay between governance levels and legal systems. However, the research is limited by its exclusive focus on formal legal texts, limited interpretive depth of topic modeling, and its single-country scope. Future studies should explore comparative legal assessments, critical discourse analysis, and network-based approaches in other developing countries. Additionally, analyzing sub-national laws and their implementation could provide further insights into the challenges and opportunities of SDG localization.