Prescriptive Positivism: Discourse on Sustainable Development Goal Interactions and Perspectives for a Post‐2030 World

ABSTRACT The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are unlikely to be achieved by 2030, prompting debate about what should follow. Beyond revision, there is a need to critically examine what values and assumptions have shaped how the SDGs are conceptualised and operationalised. Much of the academic discussion about the SDGs has centred around their interactions. Using an inductive, latent thematic analysis of 35 papers, we analysed the discourse on SDG interactions and identified a prescriptive positivist discourse that promotes management as the solution , puts faith in research and demonstrates transactionality and internalised fragmentation . Authors frequently adopt directive language and advocate technical or managerial fixes; solving trade‐offs with adequate financial resources, proper governance, and science. Equity is treated as instrumental, only what is measurable is acknowledged, and calls for integration rarely go beyond coordination. The paper highlights overlooked perspectives of stewardship that considers pluralism and treats equity, justice and nature as intrinsic.