The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB) were established in order to eliminate (or reduce at least) the effects,  caused by the Great Depression in 1929. The aim was to set up a stable economy, which will not face an economic crisis again, like it did right after the second World War. But neither the world is getting out of crises, nor does it overcome the poverty.

Turkey as a country can be seen as a ‘region of testing’, where the policies of the IMF and WB are implemented and practiced. Nevertheless these structural adjustment programmes could not prevent the huge economic crisis in Turkey, particularly the ones in 1994 and 2001. Moreover, according to some economists, the policies and advices of these institutions were one of the main reasons of the crises. Only the cost of the economic crisis in 2001 in Turkey was about $ 100 billions.

The world faces a similar crisis in the present period. In the second half of 2008 one of the biggest bankruptcies of history could be seen, with the adjudgement of banktruptcy by the Lehman Brothers Inc. with a debt of
$ 613 billions.

On the occassion of these economical and fiscal developments during the last year, the Annual Meeting of the World Bank and the IMF in İstanbul seems to be a good platform to make a contribution to discuss on alternatives and pass critisism on structural issues. 

But there must be also in mind that, additional to the economic crisis, also an ecological crisis, caused by the global climate change, can be seen. If there will be again a boom after the crisis, it is obvious that the way of supporting industries, which depend on fossil fuels, can not continue to be followed.

The 2010 World Development Report, which will be announced in Istanbul on “Development and Climate Change”, also makes the contributions of Civil Society Organizations on the isuues like crisis, global climate change and green economy, much more important.

We will discuss the reasons of the economic depression, ecological crisis, climate change, unemployment, poverty, the roles of international institutions, crisis and war, crisis and gender etc. at the forum called “Critical Voices on WB & IMF and the World in Crisis”, which will take place at Istanbul Bilgi University Dolapdere Campus on 2-4-5 October and try to contibute to the discussions in the public.

We invite all the activists and  researchers, scientists and journalists, members of CSOs, politicians and tradeunionists, young people and students, in short all the people interested in these issues to attend this forum.

In addition you can find the forum programme, flyer and poster.