A panel discussion with Katherine Marshall and Ismail Serageldin.
A WBG History Thematic Group hybrid event
James Wolfensohn made cultural heritage a World Bank priority, insisting that development must strengthen identity and human dignity, not merely raise GDP. Through forceful personal advocacy, he put “culture on the agenda,” championed landmark preservation in countries such as Georgia and Romania, mobilized global figures, and created institutional mechanisms like the Cultural Council. This repositioned the Bank as more humane and culturally attuned. OED found 82 percent of cultural heritage projects satisfactory—above the Bank average—reflecting real gains. Yet the agenda was often top-down and ad hoc, with weak operational guidance, uneven safeguards, and concerns about mission creep and sustainability.
Moderator: Alex Shakow
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