In recent years, there has been a great deal of public attention and criticism of multilateral institutions such as the World Bank, The International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organization. Their annual meetings are now events that hit the headlines of major newspapers all over the world. Yet there is still intense disagreement over what purpose they fulfill. While politicians and the established business community argue that multilateral institutions are essential tools for eliminating poverty, activists and many NGOs regard them as a means of perpetuating and strengthening the global market at the expense of developing countries. However, neither of these viewpoints are necessarily based on a detailed understanding of the multilateral institutions themselves. This book offers students, practitioners and activists a critical introduction to the major institutions that make up the multilateral development system. The mandate of these institutions defines them as...
