John W. Head

Evolution of the Governing Law for Loan Agreements of the World Bank and Other Multilateral Development Banks

What is the governing law for loan agreements entered into by the World Bank and other multilateral development banks (MDBs) in carrying out their public sector lending? That question was first definitively addressed about thirty-five years ago. This article examines the question anew, against the backdrop of recent developments in practice, especially at the newest of the MDBs, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

The World Bank in a Changing World. Selected Essays

Foreword and Acknowledgements. Part One: The Dynamic Evolution of the World Bank Within its Original Legal Framework. 1. Interpretation and Amendment of the IBRD Articles of Agreement. 2. Changing Conditions, Convictions and Aspiration Affecting the World Bank. 3. Major Changes in the Banks Mandate. Part Two: Institutional Aspects. 4. Democracy, Development and the World Bank. 5. Political Limitations on the Banks Work. 6. Relevant Issues in the Establishment of a Sound Legal Framework for a Market Economy. 7. The Settlement of Disputes - General Prepositions and the World Banks Approach and Experience. 8. World Bank Experience with Judicial Reform in Borrowing Countries - Some Relevant Issues. 9. Role of the Judiciary in the Prevention and Control of Corruption. 10. Some Aspects of Civil Service Reform. Part Three: Operational Aspects. 11. The World Bank and the World Debt Problems. 12. Financing Local Expenditures - the Banks Articles of Agreement as Applied in Practice. 13. Matter of State Succession in the Practice of the World Bank. 14. The World Banks Protection and Promotion of Childrens Rights. 15. The World Banks Contribution to the Progressive Development of International Environmental Law. 16. Implementation, Enforcement and Compliance with International Environmental Agreements - Practical Suggestions in Light of the World Banks Experience. 17. The World Bank Inspection Panel - Its Historical, Legal and Operational Aspects. 18. Corruption - A General Review with an Emphasis on the Role of the World Bank. 19. Some Recent Trends in Banking Law and Regulations. 20. The Experience of the International Centre of Settlement of Investment Disputes. 21. ICSID and Investment Treaties. Annexes. Index. Publications by the Author.

Civilization and Law: A Dark Optimism Based on the Precedent of Unprecedented Crises

I would like to begin with a thesis and some expressions of thanks. First, the thesis—so you can decide right away if you should stay or just sneak quietly out the back door during one of the moments of thunderous applause that I expect to erupt during my presentation. The thesis of my remarks is this: Civilization has come under intense attack in the past 100 years. Over those same 100 years, law—and in particular a multilateral approach to law—has made an essential contribution to repelling those attacks and preserving civilization. The attacks on civilization continue today—and so a great challenge of our time, especially for lawyers and other informed citizens, is to decide how to harness the power of a