worldbankpresident.org is the site you need to track media coverage, insider gossip, official reactions and civil society activity on the selection of the next World Bank president. If you are a journalist, activist, official, student or anyone wanting to follow the details of this story in real time, you’ve come to the right place.
Everyone is welcome to comment on any of the posts and share them via the plethora of social media options available. The site is also open to new contributors to post information, opinions, (well founded) gossip, and pose questions – if you want to become a contributor, please get in touch.
History of this blog
This blog was originally set up the day in January 2005 when former World Bank president James Wolfensohn announced he would be retiring. We wanted to shine a light on the medieval process for choosing the head of this very powerful institution – the fact that the position is in the gift of the US government.
We subsequently tracked and informed the global reaction to the Wolfowitz appointment, almost entirely of alarm, but decided in April 2005 to put the site on ice – but not for long. The predictions on this site about the problems Wolfowitz would cause proved true and in April 2007 we were back for another selection process. We relaunched the website in January 2012 after rumours started circulating that current incumbent Robert Zoellick planned to stand down after only one term at the Bank.
With new members in our blogging team and masses of energy, we will continue to provide the most active forum for democratic debate about this deeply undemocratic institution, feed journalists tips for stories, inspire activists to ramp up their challenges, and embolden more officials to speak out.
Don’t hesitate to subscribe, get involved or get in touch.
Who runs the blog?
The blog is an open platform – bloggers write in their personal capacities and are not paid. The small cost of designing and hosting the site is paid for by the Bretton Woods Project – see their annual report for full details about them.