Why is the World Bank so successful? How has it gained power even at moments in history when it seemed likely
to fall? This pathbreaking book is the first close examination of the inner workings of the Bank, the foundations
of its achievements, its propensity for intensifying the problems it intends to cure, and its remarkable ability
to tame criticism and extend its own reach.
Michael Goldman takes us inside World Bank headquarters in Washington, D.C., and then to Bank project sites around
the globe. He explains how projects funded by the Bank really work and why community activists struggle against
the World Bank and its brand of development. Goldman looks at recent ventures in areas such as the environment,
human rights, and good governance and reveals how--despite its poor track record--the World Bank has acquired greater
authority and global power than ever before.
The book sheds new light on the World Bank's role in increasing global inequalities and considers why it has become
the central target for anti-globalization movements worldwide. For anyone concerned about globalization and social
justice, Imperial Nature is essential reading.