SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: EVOLUTION OF DEFINITIONS AND CONTEMPORARY INTERPRETATIONS

Abstract

The article explores the evolution of the concept of sustainable development in both international and Ukrainian academic discourses. The relevance of this study lies in the increasing complexity, variability, and contextualization of interpretations of sustainable development, especially in the framework of Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction and adaptation to global sustainability standards. The research employs content analysis, typological structuring, and comparative methodology to investigate the key theoretical paradigms – including ecological, institutional, critical, urban, and noospheric approaches – that have shaped the global understanding of sustainable development. The study examines how these models have been localized and adapted within different geopolitical and socio-economic contexts, particularly in the USA, European Union, Global South, and Ukraine. The institutional and strategic challenges of implementing sustainability at both the national and municipal levels in Ukraine are also highlighted, with attention to decentralization, policy fragmentation, and weak coordination mechanisms. A typology of sustainable development approaches is proposed based on their conceptual priorities, implementation mechanisms, and integration with long-term strategic goals. The article emphasizes that traditional definitions of sustainable development often lack clarity and contextual flexibility, thus necessitating a revised theoretical framework suited to the current realities of Ukraine. This includes consideration of resilience, intergenerational justice, institutional capacity, and environmental equilibrium. The paper sets the groundwork for a follow-up study aimed at proposing an original definition of sustainable development that is theoretically grounded and practically applicable in the context of Ukraine’s transformational agenda and regional development strategies. Moreover, it highlights the relevance of integrating local governance perspectives and participatory mechanisms into sustainability frameworks to ensure long-term societal resilience.