During and in the years following World War II, there was a significant need for financial assistance, particularly in Europe. The United States, structurally, was almost intact and its economy was growing. Soon they became the new superpower. At a conference held in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, in 1944, the World Bank (WB) was founded with the aim of rebuilding Europe. The head office was located in Washington and the bank's president was American. When the economic situation in Europe stabilized, the WB shifted its focus. The World Bank has grown from a post-war lender in Europe to one of the most influential financial institutions today, due to its financing of development projects across different continents. This text will discuss the World Bank and, from an interdisciplinary perspective, how it has changed. The United States-founded Marshall Plan was introduced in 1947 to meet the great need for support in Europe. They quickly became the preferred mechanism for financing reconstruction, due to their more liberal policies, as the WB was not prepared to provide the enormous support needed. (Bret, 2007)(p 61/310) This therefore caused a drop in interest on the part of Europe. Previous ignorance of poor countries turned into sudden attention to their pressing problems and the WB began to fight poverty. During decolonization, the number of WB members increased from 2 African members in 1947 to 58 African and Asian members in 1971. Former colonies have emerged from poverty and are in need of assistance. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), better known as the World Bank, has attempted to meet this need in the decades since its creation. (Bret, invested interest) The models used for economic growth were, according to economist Willi... ... middle of paper ...... now we are aiming for the 8 millennium goals. But time will tell if they will succeed in achieving them. Works cited Benjamin Bret, invested interest: The culture of capital and the World Bank. 2007 University of Minnesota Press, 2007 p:xi, 25-30, 99-101, 200-207The World Bank Group, World Bank Guide (2nd edition), World Bank Publications, 2007 p:1-4 , 18.48 William Easterly, Elusive Quest for Growth: Economists' Adventures and Misadventures in the Tropics, MIT press, 2002 p:28-34, 101-120 The World Bank., “History of the World Bank”: http://web .worldbank.org/WBSITE /EXTERNAL/EXTABOUTUS/EXTARCHIVES/0,,contentMDK:20053333~menuPK:63762~pagePK:36726~piPK:36092~theSitePK:29506,00.htlThe World Bank, “Voting power of country IRBDs members » http://siteresources. worldbank.org/BODINT/Resources/278027-1215524804501/IBRDCountryVotingTable.pdf last modified 12.31.2010