Comparative Analysis of Sustainable Development Policies in Russia and Japan: Characteristics, Challenges, and Prospects

Abstract

The article provides a comparative analysis of the policies of the Russian Federation and Japan in the field of sustainable development, considering their geographical proximity, similarities in challenges they face, and potential for sharing experience. The novelty of the work lies in its comprehensive comparison of development models in different political and cultural contexts, which goes beyond economics and considers sociocultural factors. The work examines the evolution of approaches from almost complete neglect of the topic in Russia during the 1990s to Japan’s search for development of new paths during a period of economic stagnation, to the formation of current national strategies. Special attention is paid to the ideological foundations, priorities, and results of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The role of the state and business is analyzed: in Russia, it is mainly a stateled initiative, whereas in Japan, it is driven by business and local authorities. The methodology includes comparative analysis, an institutional approach, and a study of documents. The sources are strategic documents, reports, and statistics. Key differences have been identified: in Russia, a technocratic and institutional approach; in Japan, a culturally oriented and socially integrated approach, which makes it possible to assess the prospects of each model.