The power of public bureaucracies: forest-related climate change policies in Bangladesh (1992–2014)

As a cross-cutting issue, climate policy depends on the ability of national-level public bureaucracies to formulate and implement effective measures. However, these sectoral agencies strongly compete for resources, political responsibility and power. In the process of allocating specific climate-related policy tasks and resources, changes in the distribution of power among these competing agencies can occur. This process results in the overall architecture of power distribution among climate-related bureaucracies. Arguably, this very architecture – as the aggregation of numerous climate-related policies – plays a decisive role in the direction of climate policy. Using concepts derived from power theory and theories of bureaucratic politics, this study analyses the power added to climate-relevant bureaucracies as a result of policy tasks being allocated to them through myriad international and domestic climate policies and initiatives. Data on national and international forest-related climate change policies (n = 153) in Bangladesh (1992–2014) are used to qualitatively analyse policy tasks assigned to bureaucracies and the power dynamics that arise as a result. The results suggest that core government bureaucracies from outside the climate change realm (e.g. the ministries of planning and finance) are gaining significant power from climate initiatives. Recently, foreign donors have also gained power, mainly through incentives from their climate-related development projects. In light of the existing literature, this article discusses and draws conclusions about the prevailing power elements and policy mixes, the effects of internationalization on domestic climate policy and the way the changing power architecture sets the direction and practical policy limits for climate change policy in Bangladesh.Policy relevanceThis article contributes to the understanding of power dynamics among national-level and donor administrations and the implications for international forest-related climate change politics. It reveals the prevailing policy structures of a specific country then, based on that country’s policy makers, recommends an appropriate action plan and suggests which kinds of policy interventions (financial, informational, etc.) might be necessary to successfully implement policies at national and international levels.