With a review of the executive branch and congressional actions, this book provides the purposes and history of U.S. participation in the multilateral development banks and the relationship between process and goals in the formulation and application of U.S. Foreign policy.

Contents: (1) Intro.; (2) Overview of Multilateral Develop. Banks (MDB): Historical Background: World Bank; Regional Develop. Banks; Operations: Financial Assist. to Developing Countries: Financial Assist. Over Time; Recipients of MDB Financial Assist.; Donor Commitments and Contributions: Concessional and Non-Concessional Lending Windows; Structure and Org.: Relation to Other Internat. Institutions; Internal Org.; Effectiveness of the MDBs: Effectiveness of Foreign Aid; Bilateral vs. Multilateral Aid; (3) Authorizing and Appropriating U.S. Contrib. to the MDBs; Frequency and Process; Admin. Request for FY 2011; Congress. Oversight; U.S. Commercial Interests and ¿Country Systems¿; Proposals for Voting Reform at the World Bank. Illustrations.