The World Bank is one of the most important and least understood major international institutions. This book provides a concise, accessible and comprehensive overview of the World Bank's history, development, structure, functionality and activities. These themes are illustrated with a wide variety of case studies drawn from the Bank's international activities. Also discussed are the controversial challenges that the Bank now faces in the light of the criticism from campaigners and NGOs.

This work fills a significant gap in the current literature by providing a concise introduction to religious institutions and an insightful analysis of their role in world affairs. Focusing on formal institutions specifically dedicated to governing religious communities, the work examines the intersections between religious and other global institutions, set against the fundamental question: why and how do these intersections matter? The work explores the role of religion within key issues including Human rights Human security International development and humanitarian relief Climate change Moral responsibilities The new forms that religious institutions are taking, their fit with human rights and democratic ideals, their changing nature in plural societies, are a highly relevant part of the global institutional picture and this book is essential reading for all students and scholars of global institutions, international relations and religion.

Product Description: The world of religion has been unacknowledged and often unseen by many development practitioners. The areas of common concern and activity, though, are numerous and have great importance in the global effort to fight poverty.'Mind, Heart and Soul in the Fight Against Poverty' explores the diversity of collaboration between faith institutions and development agencies - ranging from community level interventions in support of excluded populations; work on education, health, and HIV/AIDS; restoring communities after conflicts; and global efforts to bring greater clarity and meaning to challenges such as poor country debt, labor and the struggle against poverty...read more

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