Ethics and human rights in the World Bank

Desmond McNeill

Chapter 25 in The Elgar Companion to the World Bank, 2024, pp 298-308 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: The chapter first describes the World Bank’s engagement with ethics and human rights (EHR) since the 1990s. I find that with regard to both issues, the Bank was somewhat active early in this century, when external pressure from critics and the role of President Wolfensohn (1995-2005) played an important part; but activity has since waned. I next assess arguments as to why the World Bank should engage with EHR. Regarding ethics, I draw partly on political philosophy, suggesting the Bank has obligations because it is ‘response-able’. Regarding human rights, I briefly summarize the substantial literature on the question, mainly by legal scholars. Finally, I ask what hinders the Bank from engaging more with EHR. Drawing on the work of several scholars, I identify three main constraints: legal, i.e. the interpretation of the Bank’s Articles of Agreement; the culture of the Bank, dominated by economics; and political - resistance by the Bank’s Executive Directors.

Keywords: Development Studies; Economics and Finance; Law - Academic; Politics and Public Policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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