Elite Capture and Unequal Climate Resilience in Coastal Bangladesh

Shashi Shabnam Easha & Md. Shekh Farid

July-Aug-Sep

Abstract
Bangladesh is widely recognised for its achievements in climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction, particularly in areas such as cyclone preparedness, community-based adaptation and coastal planning for resilience. However, resilience benefits are unevenly distributed across coastal Bangladesh. This article analyses how elite capture in local climate governance affects access to adaptation resources, resulting in differentiated resilience outcomes. Drawing on resilience research, climate governance, political ecology, and climate justice scholarship, this paper conceptualises resilience as a political distributional outcome, rather than a neutral community attribute. Using a qualitative comparative case-study analysis of data from climate-vulnerable districts in coastal Bangladesh, this research examines how patronage networks, beneficiary selection, participatory procedures, information asymmetry, administrative gatekeeping, and infrastructure management influence access to relief, housing support, livelihood assistance, safe water facilities, and embankment protection. The findings reveal that although adaptation programmes can boost aggregate resilience, they can also create local inequalities in the absence of effective accountability mechanisms. The study concludes that transparent and accountable governance, meaningful participation, and stronger safeguards against elite capture in the local governance system are essential for achieving equitable climate adaptation.

Keyword: Climate governance; Elite capture; Climate adaptation; Resilience; Coastal Bangladesh; Political ecology

Research Area: Political Science/Environment

Country: Bangladesh

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