Date
1-14-2026
Department
Helms School of Government
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy (PhD)
Chair
Eugene Belmain
Keywords
institutional theory, SDG 11, urban planning, urban governance, global isomorphism, isomorphism, isomorphic pressures
Disciplines
Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration
Recommended Citation
Rothenbach, Latisha R., "The Power of International Relations in Local Communities: An Institutional Theory Case Study Examining the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 11 in Four Virginia Communities" (2026). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 7920.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/7920
Abstract
By pursuing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, communities across Virginia may be losing their unique, local characteristics. This study investigates whether communities in Virginia have been implementing Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11. Guided by institutional theory, this study explores the research questions: What effect do global isomorphic pressures of SDG 11 have on local institutional integration of urban planning regarding community connectivity, land use, and open green public spaces? How do local planning documents and institutional actors frame, adopt, or resist global isomorphic pressures of SDG 11 in relation to community connectivity, land use, and open green public spaces? How do qualitative institutional narratives help explain or contextualize quantitative variation in SDG 11 implementation across communities? Using an integrative mixed-method case study, this study evaluates four Virginia communities: Dale City, Kilmarnock, Marion, and Midlothian. Dale City showed the strongest alignment with SDG 11. Midlothian also demonstrated strong integration, while Marion reflected a more moderate alignment. Kilmarnock, however, displayed only partial integration. Communities with more pronounced isomorphic influences tended to demonstrate greater community connectivity, diversified land use, and expanded open green public spaces. The study contributes to institutional theory by introducing three new concepts: Hybrid Isomorphism, Reverse Isomorphism, and Isomorphic Drift. This study introduces the Rothenbach Institutional Integration Framework (RIIF), a formal model explaining how global sustainability norms are interpreted, adapted, or resisted within local governance institutions.
