Marjorie Taylor Greene | Biography, Politician, Controversy, & Facts – Britannica

 

Report on the Political Career of Marjorie Taylor Greene and Its Intersection with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Introduction

This report provides an analysis of the political career of Marjorie Taylor Greene, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. The assessment focuses on her actions and rhetoric as they relate to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning institutional integrity, public health, and social equality.

Biographical and Professional Background

Education and Economic Activity

Marjorie Taylor Greene’s background includes engagement in economic activities that align with principles of SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). Her professional history is rooted in business management.

• Obtained a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Georgia, contributing to SDG 4 (Quality Education).
• Served as chief financial officer for her family’s construction company from 2007 to 2011.
• Co-founded and operated a commercial gym, later selling her stake in the enterprise.

Entry into Political Activism

Greene’s political engagement began around 2016, escalating through online platforms. Her initial activism was characterized by commentary on a personal blog and social media, where she developed a following by addressing controversial topics.

Analysis of Political Positions and SDG Alignment

Challenges to SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

A significant portion of Greene’s political activity presents challenges to the objectives of SDG 16, which aims to “promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.”

1. Erosion of Institutional Trust: Greene’s promotion of QAnon conspiracy theories and unsubstantiated claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 presidential election directly conflicts with SDG Target 16.6 (develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions) and Target 16.7 (ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making).
2. January 6 Capitol Attack: Following the storming of the U.S. Capitol, Greene formally objected to the certification of electoral votes, an action that challenged the peaceful transition of power, a cornerstone of stable institutions under SDG 16.
3. Gun Control Discourse: Her confrontational approach toward advocates for gun control, including student survivors of mass shootings, complicates public discourse on violence reduction, a key element of SDG Target 16.1 (significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere).

Impact on SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

Greene’s public statements regarding the COVID-19 pandemic have been identified as running counter to SDG 3, which seeks to “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.”

• She utilized social media platforms to disseminate misinformation about the efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines.
• These actions directly undermine SDG Target 3.d, which calls for strengthening the capacity for early warning, risk reduction, and management of national and global health risks.
• Her personal Twitter account was permanently suspended in January 2022 (later reinstated in November 2022) for repeated violations of the platform’s COVID-19 misinformation policy.

Implications for SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action)

Certain statements and theories endorsed by Greene have implications for goals related to social equity and environmental stewardship.

• SDG 10: Statements such as her assertion that Black Americans are “held slaves to the Democratic Party” are contrary to the spirit of SDG 10, which aims to reduce inequality and promote the social and political inclusion of all, irrespective of race or origin.
• SDG 13 & 15: The promotion of conspiracy theories, such as the claim that wildfires were caused by space lasers, represents a significant obstacle to fact-based public discourse required to address climate change (SDG 13) and protect terrestrial ecosystems (SDG 15).

Congressional Career and Institutional Influence

First Term in the House of Representatives

Upon entering Congress in 2021, Greene established a pattern of legislative obstructionism, frequently forcing recorded votes on measures typically passed by voice vote. This tactic, while permissible, impacted the operational efficiency of the legislative body, a factor relevant to the performance of institutions under SDG 16.

Growing Influence and Committee Appointments

Despite early controversies, Greene demonstrated significant fundraising capabilities and secured reelection in 2022. Her subsequent support for Kevin McCarthy’s bid for Speaker of the House was pivotal. This political maneuver secured her appointments to influential committees, including:

• The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability
• The House Committee on Homeland Security

These positions grant her a formal role in shaping policy relevant to national security, government transparency, and public administration, areas that are intrinsically linked to the successful implementation of SDG 16.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

Based on the content of the article, the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are relevant:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article discusses the spread of misinformation regarding public health crises, which directly impacts this goal.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The article mentions racially charged statements that are pertinent to the goal of reducing inequalities and promoting social inclusion.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: This is the most relevant SDG, as the article extensively covers actions and rhetoric that challenge the integrity of democratic institutions, the rule of law, and public access to reliable information.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Several specific targets can be identified from the issues discussed in the article:

1. Under SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Target 3.d: “Strengthen the capacity of all countries… for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks.” The article highlights actions that directly undermine this target by detailing how Greene used her platform to spread misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccines. It states, “The offending tweets included false claims about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the vaccination campaign,” which works against the management of global health risks.
2. Under SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • Target 10.2: “By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… race, ethnicity…” The article references Greene’s “incendiary statements, including her assertion that Black Americans are ‘held slaves to the Democratic Party’.” Such rhetoric can be seen as undermining the social and political inclusion of a racial group.
3. Under SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • Target 16.6: “Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.” Greene’s actions, such as formally challenging certified election results and systematically obstructing legislative business (“objected to one voice vote after another, not only derailing some bills”), challenge the effectiveness and accountability of congressional processes.
   • Target 16.7: “Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.” The article notes that Greene was “one of the many Trump supporters who contended that the election had gone in Trump’s favor, even though the results showed a clear victory for Joe Biden.” This challenge to the legitimate outcome of a democratic election undermines the principle of representative decision-making.
   • Target 16.10: “Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms…” The article’s central theme is Greene’s promotion of “QAnon conspiracy theories” and the spread of misinformation. It explicitly notes that “Twitter permanently suspended Greene’s personal account after it issued repeated warnings to her about using the platform to spread misinformation.” This directly relates to the challenge of ensuring public access to factual information versus harmful disinformation.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions or implies several indicators that can measure challenges or progress related to the identified targets:

• For Target 3.d: The specific content of the misinformation serves as an indicator. The article points to “a tweet that alleged that the vaccines ‘do not reduce the spread of the virus’ and another that charged that the vaccine had caused ‘extremely high amounts’ of deaths.” The prevalence and dissemination of such false claims are indicators of a weakened capacity to manage health crises.
• For Target 10.2: The existence and public dissemination of racially charged rhetoric by elected officials is a qualitative indicator of challenges to social inclusion. The direct quote provided in the article—”Black Americans are ‘held slaves to the Democratic Party’”—serves as a specific data point for this indicator.
• For Targets 16.6 and 16.7: An indicator of institutional weakness is the number of formal, baseless challenges to certified election results by elected officials. The article states, “Greene joined more than a hundred fellow Republicans in formally challenging the results of the election.” This act itself is a measurable indicator of a challenge to institutional integrity.
• For Target 16.10: A clear indicator mentioned is the enforcement actions taken by platforms against misinformation. The article states, “Twitter permanently suspended Greene’s personal account after it issued repeated warnings to her about using the platform to spread misinformation.” This suspension is a measurable response to the problem of disinformation, indicating its severity. The promotion of specific conspiracy theories, such as QAnon and that the “September 11 attacks were an inside job,” also serves as an indicator of the pollution of the information ecosystem.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs	Targets	Indicators Identified in the Article
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being	3.d: Strengthen capacity for management of national and global health risks.	Dissemination of false claims about the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccines, such as that they “do not reduce the spread of the virus” and cause “extremely high amounts” of deaths.
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities	10.2: Promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of race.	Use of racially charged and incendiary statements, such as the assertion that “Black Americans are ‘held slaves to the Democratic Party’.”
SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions	16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions. 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making. 16.10: Ensure public access to information.	Formal challenges to certified election results without evidence. Promotion of conspiracy theories (QAnon, September 11 attacks, etc.) that undermine trust in institutions. Permanent suspension from a major social media platform (Twitter) for repeatedly spreading misinformation.

Source: britannica.com