International Organizations and Postcolonial Power Asymmetries in Climate Finance

Climate finance is one of the most essential elements of global climate governance. However, climate finance asymmetry is visible across states. Particularly worrying is the fact that financing seems to emanate from the erstwhile colonial hierarchies. This study investigates how international organizations reflect the persistence of postcolonial power asymmetries through climate finance by comparing two climate vulnerable states, but from incomparable positions in global politics: Bangladesh and The Netherlands. They are both vulnerable from sea level rise and similar environmental challenges; however, they are treated differently when it comes to support from the international community. This study draws on the international financial subordination framework along with a quantified content analysis method to investigate their interaction with international organizations. The international organizations that are under consideration are the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund...Show moreClimate finance is one of the most essential elements of global climate governance. However, climate finance asymmetry is visible across states. Particularly worrying is the fact that financing seems to emanate from the erstwhile colonial hierarchies. This study investigates how international organizations reflect the persistence of postcolonial power asymmetries through climate finance by comparing two climate vulnerable states, but from incomparable positions in global politics: Bangladesh and The Netherlands. They are both vulnerable from sea level rise and similar environmental challenges; however, they are treated differently when it comes to support from the international community. This study draws on the international financial subordination framework along with a quantified content analysis method to investigate their interaction with international organizations. The international organizations that are under consideration are the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the Green Climate Fund (after 2015 to account for the Paris Climate Agreement). Project and policy documents have been analyzed to identify tendencies in material and linguistic framing. By uncovering these patterns, discursive, and operational difference can be seen as reinforcing subordinate relationships rooted in historical patterns, even when climate vulnerability is similar. This study finds that international organizations deploy systematically distinct discursive framing towards each state, with Bangladesh more frequently portrayed through narratives of vulnerability, capacity deficit, and compliance, while the Netherlands is framed through partnership, technical expertise and mutual coordination.Show less

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International Organizations and Postcolonial Power Asymmetries in Climate Finance