Yorgun I.
Celal Bayar Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, cilt.24, sa.2, ss.582-594, 2026 (TRDizin)
Özet
In recent decades, universities have undergone a profound transformation, emerging as influential actors in the evolving architecture of global governance. No longer confined to the periphery of political affairs, they increasingly shape international discourse, contribute to policy development, and mobilize knowledge to address global challenges. This study adopts a political history perspective to examine the historical evolution of universities as political institutions, tracing their changing roles in governance and their growing engagement with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Since their adoption in 2015, the SDGs have provided a normative framework for addressing climate change, inequality, poverty, and institutional fragility. Through historical and political analysis, this article demonstrates how universities have evolved from elite knowledge institutions into key components of international governance. It argues that, within broader political and ideological transformations, universities have become central actors in advancing the political project of global sustainability.