WHAT WILL THE NEW WORLD BANK HEAD
DO FOR GLOBAL HEALTH?

On June 1, 2005, Paul D Wolfowitz took over from James D Wolfensohn as president of the World Bank. This article examines evidence surrounding the appointment of Paul Wolfowitz as World Bank President, analyzing key themes and principles in Wolfowitz’s writings that shaped his vision of the World Bank and delineating future leadership challenges in health and development. Wolfowitz was a key architect of US military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan—actions he justified in the name of expanding democracy. Wolfowitz is known for his scholarly views on national security strategy and foreign policy, and he has written widely on these issues advocating, American global leadership and interest. He has amassed considerable expertise in military strategy. But, although he is former dean and professor of international relations at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, at the time of his presidential appointment, he lacked lacks specific expertise in development theory, practice, and dialogue. 

Further analysis of Wolfowitz’s writing, speeches, public statements, congressional testimony, and service on public commissions revealed a core set of principles that at the time were deemed likely to shape his vision of a 21st century World Bank: from spreading democracy and its institutions worldwide to principles of private-sector-led growth in all countries to debt relief for health and human development. This analysis suggested that Wolfowitz was likely to take the bank in a new direction and, like Robert McNamara decades before, Wolfowitz could possibly surprise the development community and bring health and human development to the fore.

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