65919 SECTORAL & IT RESOII~r:F CENTER AUG 1 5 2002 WORLD BANK Michael Makes His Mark: The Life and Times of a Change Agent in the World Bank Compiled by: Gloria Davis, Andrew Steer, and Warren Van Wicklin August 1998 This document was prepared by staff in the Social Development Family of the World Bank. The Environment, Rural Development, and Social Development Families are part of the Environ- mentally and Socially Sustainable Development (ESSD) Network. The Social Development Family is made up of World Bank staff working on social issues. Documents in the Social Development report series are not formal publications of the World Bank. They are informal documents that are circulated to encourage discussion and comment. The Social Development Family also produces Social Development Papers, Social Development Working Papers, and Social Development Notes, which are formally reviewed and edited by the Social Development Family. The findings, interpretations, judgments, and conclusions expressed in this document are those of the author(s) and should not be attributed to the World Bank, to its affiliated organiza- tions, or to members of the Board of Executive Directors or the governments they represent. Copies of Social Development reports, Papers, Working Papers, and Notes are available from: Social Development The World Bank 1818 H Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20433 USA Fax: 202-522-3247 E-mail: sdpublications@worldbank.org Contents Page Foreword v One Memory! Shahid Javed Burki .......................................................................................................... 1 "I Would Like to Have Michael on My Next Mission" Leif E. Christoffersen ....................................................................................................... 3 A Presence That Transcends Projects - An Intellectual Force Ismail Serageldin ............................................................................................................. 5 An Ode to Michael Gloria Davis .................................................................................................................... 7 You Performed Nobly Robert S. McNamara ....................................................................................................... 9 First Field Mission Olivier Lafourcade ......................................................................................................... 11 The Pioneer Ashraf Ghani ................................................................................................................. 13 Intellectual Banquet Bill Partridge ................ ,' ............................................................................................... 15 Ask the Right Questions, Irritate the Right People Sha'lJ)ki Barghouti .......................................................................................................... 17 What Michael Does Know Maria Clara Mejia ........................................... '" .......................................................... 19 Study Tours Herve Plusquellec .......................................................................................................... 23 Resettlement Review Pierre Landell-Mills ...................................................................................................... 25 January 1 Josette Murphy .............................................................................................................. 27 Masterful Dancer Ayse Kudat .................................................................................................................... 29 The Biting Flea ... Alberto Harth ................................................................................................................ 31 Toughening Up the Bank Anonymous ................................................................................................................... 33 Michael in Yemen Christopher Ward .......................................................................................................... 35 This May Be a Myth, But .. . Scott Guggenheim ......................................................................................................... 37 Speaking Out for Our Institution..:.. and for Development Alexander Shakow ......................................................................................................... 39 Expanding NESS (Non-Economic Social Science) in the Bank David M.arsden .............................................................................................................. 41 Never Easy to Be a Pioneer Francis J. Lethem ........................................................................................................... 43 ii Doing Great Things Ten Years Before Everybody Else Maryvonne Plessis-Fraissard ....................................................................................... 45 Institutions Don't Retire Gordon Appleby ............................................................................................................. 47 Putting People First GUlen Butcher ................................................................................................................ 49 Professional Integrity Hatsuya Azumi ............................................................................................................. 51 Your Efforts Influenced My Decision Maria Elena Castro ....................................................................................................... 53 The Epitome of Professionalism - and a Friend Mamadou Dia ................................................................................................................ 55 We Hold Michael Personally Responsible Lars Soeftestad ............................................................................................................... 57 You've Changed a Lot of People's Lives Lauren Fredman ............................................................................................................ 59 Words from Colleagues and Family (The Retirement Party for Michael M. Cernea) ..................................................... 61 Tributes by: Ismail Serageldin Gloria Davis James Wolfensohn Andrew Steer Wilfried Thalwitz Dana Cernea Montague Yudelman Andrei Cernea Dana Cernea Jonathan Fredman Caio Koch-Weser iii Foreword This collective publication was experiment for our institution and a prepared by Gloria Davis, Andrew great challenge for Michael: he Steer, and Warren Van Wicklin, on transformed both into a lasting success. behalf of colleagues and friends, as a He innovated, brought iconoclastic tribute to Michael Cernea on the ideas and approaches inside the occasion of his formal retirement from institution, opened up new ways of regular Bank work. Through his writing development policy and of activities, "Michael Made His Mark," designing social and cultural concerns and in these pages the contributors into the fabric of development speak about" the Life and Times of a interventions. Michael left his mark on Change Agent inside the World Bank." the World Bank, and, in many ways, on the work and personal destinies of Before coming to the Bank, Michael was many of us. an academic: he did research, taught sociology, and had to endure the slings This is why his colleagues and friends, and arrows of unfavorable political the Bank's senior managers, many envirorunents. As we got to know him sociologists, economists, later, we came to realize how difficult envirorunentalists, technical specialists, circumstances early in his personal life and members of Michael's family have shaped his beliefs, values, and jOined in giving him collective public determination to use social science recognition. knowledge in fighting poverty, exclusion, discrimination, and social Michael has neither ceased his work for injustice. development nor interrupted his writings. We warmly wish him to Michael joined the Bank almost a continue as successfully as ever, in solid quarter of a century ago, in 1974, as its health, as the first "member emeritus" first sociologist ever. It was a tentative of our expanding Bank "social family." v One Memory! I have one early recollection. wanted to make an important announcement - and said: I believe it was sometime in the mid-70s, when I was the Secretary "Gentlemen, we have taken an of the World Bank Policy Review important step. We have just Committee. The Policy Committee hired the first social scientist. He was chaired by Robert McNamara, is a Romanian and his name is the Bank's President. Michael Cernea. /I At one of our meetings, McNamara entered E-1227, his conference room, sat down, looked at the assembled Shahid Javed Burki Vice Presidents, banged the table- Regional Vice President something he always did when he Latin America and Caribbean Region 1 "I Would Like to Have Michael on My Next Mission" Our lives and careers have been so one meeting you were introduced as closely intertwined that it is not easy the Bank's new "rural socialist"! to know where to start with this tribute to you on your retirement. A significant early factor in your There are indeed so many happy success at the Bank was your memories. willingness to immerse yourself in extensive mission work for project It all started with our recruitment operations. Since I encouraged you search for a sociologist in the Rural to do so, it was very revealing and Development Division. Not a general rewarding to me when, relatively sOciologist, but a rural sociologist! early on, one of the tough and very Your name popped up on several experienced agriculturists came to reference lists. We had met briefly at me and said: "I would like to have the Rural Industrialization Michael on my next mission. He Conference in Bucharest, but I does very good project work." hesitated - since you came from a closed" country not known for 1/ Quite a breakthrough for a its understanding of global newcomer with a profeSSional development issues. Then I heard discipline almost completely you were visiting Canada. We met in unknown in the Bank! Montreal and talked at great length. A delightful dinner followed in a Your solid knowledge of project Polish restaurant. It was clear that analysis and the Bank's project cycle you would be a good fit for the job - enabled you to become very effective and you came to the Bank. What a in the formulation of policies and blessing for us all! guidelines for operational work in the Bank. You became a trailblazer for Yet, the Bank was not familiar with other social scientists who later the discipline of rural sociology. At joined the institution. 3 The Bank will miss your sage advice All the best-and I wish you success and wise judgments, but your with the next stage of your very friends look forward to keeping in productive and distinguished life. continuous contact after your retirement. I feel lucky to be one of Leif E. Christoffersen them. Environment, Africa Region and Chairman, Grid Arendal FoundaHo~ lVonway 4 A Presence That Transcends Projects- An Intellectual Force It is difficult to imagine the Bank integrity and wisdom of traditional without you. cultures, and so much more. You have much to be proud of, my The presence you have had friend, and rightly, you can take transcends the specific projects or satisfaction in how far you have operations on which you intervened. contributed to moving the institution The presence was an intellectual force in the right direction. The breadth of and an emotional one. Emotional in your intellectual concerns and the the good sense of the word, bringing effectiveness of your interventions in passion and compassion to the tasks so many of these domains are at hand. Marrying a commitment to among the qualities that have excellence to the caring and the endeared you to so many. professionalism that have distinguished so much of your work I suddenly realize that although I both inside and outside the Bank. have always considered you a friend and thought of you as a close So what kind of a Bank are you collaborator, we have not actually leaving behind? A much better one. traveled together except to One where so many of the ideas that international conferences. The last of you have championed for so many which is the most memorable one years are now so commonplace and for me: the International Congress mainstream that we forget the on Rural Sociology in Bucharest, revolutionary character that these where you and I spent some time ideas had two decades ago. Listening with the country's president and you to the clients, putting people first, introduced me to the World looking at the social dimensions of Congress, and your old university what we do, caring for the displaced saw fit to honor me. What a trip it and the disenfranchised, giving voice was! Though it was short, it had to the voiceless and the everything. Intellectual debates at all marginalized, respecting the hours, including a critique of my 5 speech in my hotel room. A critique pressure from the mundane and that covered as much the origins of the administrative. the theory and concepts of the subject at hand. What fun that was, But it is also time to bring to bear the to be engaged with our lively minds wisdom of your years. Yours is no and caring intellect. Not to mention retirement. It is a continuation and a the visits to the village museum, the new beginning. I look forward to debates at the Academy of Sciences, working with you to apply some of and at the university and the the ideas that we have discussed so Congress of Rural Sociology. A most many times. Apply them in the Bank memorable two days. I look forward to create that new paradigm that we to more such joint missions. have been carefully elaborating over the years. Apply them to Yemen, and So, as you start a new phase of your elsewhere. There is so much to do. life, it is always a time to reflect and Let's get started. Now. to take stock. It is a time to look to the future and a time to work Ismail Serageldin on what we care about. To take time Vice President for family and friends with less Special Programs 6 An Ode to Michael There once was a fellow named Mike Bane of large dam and turnpike He'd show his true mettle If you tried to resettle With a plan that oustees didn't like. Then into the fray he would go Narmada, Shuikou, Nangbeto For the small guy, he'd fight With all of his might No thought for who's friend or who's foe. But in truth, he was easy to please If you followed the social ODs He'd smile and he'd flatter If he thought it would matter If not, you could get the deep freeze. The reason for this is quite clear As we reflect on his sterling career We can see that he fought For those who had nought And in this, he has had no real peer. So Michael: A salute as your path leaves the Bank's From those who have now joined the ranks You paved the way For us here today And for this, we give you our thanks. Thanks, Michael! Gloria Davis Director Social Development Department 7 "I You Performed Nobly November 3,1996 Dear Michael: I deeply regret that a meeting in Ouagadougou of the Global Coalition for Africa, of which I am a Co-Chairman, prevented me from attending the party celebrating your dis- tinguished career in the World Bank. As the first sociologist hired by the Bank to follow up on its program to attack poverty throughout the developing world, you performed nobly. You will long be remembered as a tireless champion of the poor and a driving force in pushing the social agenda of the Bank. Tens of millions of the poorest of the poor are in your ~ debt. ( With best wishes, I."" Robert S. McNamara \ I I ( -.",,/~ ...----.-1 --/~W_.arl 9 First Field Mission I will certainly always keep in mind somehow, we always kept in touch what I believe was Michael's first (thanks, Leif, for having created the mission for the Bank, shortly after he spirit where all your former joined the Bank. colleagues of the Division somehow succeeded in keeping in touch with This must have been somewhere in each other). At the time when I was the early Fall of 1974. The destination working with the President, Michael was Mauritius. Tough life for a first and I would meet occasionally. I was mission! ... This was the first always fascinated and stimulated by poverty-oriented Rural Development his perseverance to defend the cause Project financed by the Bank. Lots of of the sociological dimensions of our excitement for being part of the work (a long and eventually fruitful spearheading effort on rural battle, even if there is still some way development. The mission was led by to go). Gus Schumacher, but part of the excitement also had to do with all A renewed closer operational those beautiful Scandinavian models association began when I took frolicking on the beach at the Trou charge of the Indian agriculture aux Biches Hotel ... Anyway, this program in 1986. There, Michael was my first encounter with Michael. was immensely helpful in educating I was a young, inexperienced Bank me and providing advice on issues staff member, recently graduated rather new to me (coming from the from the YP program, and it was Zaire and Rwanda/Burundi great to be associated with a seasoned programs), especially in the area of SOciologist. indigenous populations. This is perhaps where I most valued Then, of course, as is unfortunately Michael's advice and guidance, even usual in the Bank, our respective if I believe today that I could and paths diverged. I started working on should have done much more in Brazil, he went all over the world. But following this advice. 11 Africa was then the area where I to have known him for so long, to had the opportunity to get good have received his advice and advice from Michael. By then, guidance. The Bank now loses one however, I was also fortunately of its most distinguished elements, being advised by some of Michael's but I do hope that his leaving the own friends and colleagues, since it Bank will not mean his cutting his was obvious his ideas had elicited a association with it, and leaving us lot of follow on, with now much without the benefit of his enormous larger staff resources available in the experience accumulated over these Bank, and considerably more long and fruitful years with the attention was being paid to the institution. issues. All the best, Michael! We'll miss you, In all this, what came out as constant but I am sure we'll keep in touch features were Michael's unfailing anyway. commitment to the cause of development and his outstanding Olivier Lafourcade professionalism. It has been a Director privilege for me to work with him, Mexico Country Management Unit 12 The Pioneer I would like to celebrate Michael the To transform the Bank, Michael has pioneer, who dedicated himself to the not only been thinking big but task of transforming both the Bank thinking strategically. Asking for an and the social sciences into operational directive at one time and instruments of social development. a paradigm shift at another, he has We have all benefited from his demonstrated a sense of strategic capacities for strategic vision, vision. Instrumental to his success in organizational deftness, and translating his strategic vision into engagement in community building actual changes on the ground has and collective action. been astuteness in reading the Bank as an organization. Who among the social scientists in the Bank has not received In sum, Michael has treated his encouragement, advice, and even work as a calling. We, his friends friendly criticism from Michael while are counting on his counsel and confronting the tasks facing us or the active participation to cultivate the issues that we should have been fields that he has so diligently facing? His role in forging the social delineated. As neighbors, Rula and scientists into a community capable I also count on seeing more of him of collective action has been and Ruth. indispensable. His house, thanks to Ruth the anthropologist of ritual and commensality, has often been the place where we have gathered Ashraf Ghani to break bread and strengthen our Senior Anthropologist bonds of friendship. Social Development Department 13 Intellectual Banquet When I left for southern Mexico in the same mode, research and 1977 to begin research into how the writing, had I not met my friend, Mazatec people displaced by the teacher, and collaborator, Michael Aleman Dam had reestablished their Cernea. You remember, Michael, we society and economy, I told my first met in Buenos Aires at a friends in California - Thayer regional seminar on the social Scudder, Barbara Myerhoff, and impacts of high dams organized by Sally Falk Moore-that eventually I the Organization of American States. would hope to find some practical (They had wanted Ted Scudder to use for my research findings. At that speak, but as the proceedings were time I had only a vague idea of how to be in Spanish, Ted called me and to make practical use of my work. asked if I would be willing to stand That was to publish my findings and in for him.) At lunch near the end of hope some policymakers the conference, we feasted on good somewhere would be influenced by Argentine beef and wine as well as my ideas. upon the intellectual banquet made up of the hundreds of lessons As my work progressed, I wrote learned by social scientists that numerous pieces about the needed to be applied to practical Mazatec's displacement. I development problems. documented both the relatively successful efforts to rebuild For the next several years, as you communities where the resettlement brought me into the Bank, first as a plans were agreed upon and short-term consultant on a series of financed, and the tragic, unjust, and projects in India, then to work with devastating failures of people forced you directly for a year carrying out ou t of their homes with little or no the first resettlement portfolio review planning or assistance. I wrote and (quashed), and finally as we set up hoped someone was reading. the first regional environmental I probably would have continued in units, I learned from you the arts 15 and sciences of confronting, In this year of your retirement, social challenging, and convincing analysis will be institutionalized in nonbelievers of the urgency and routine business practices of project practicality of applying social science preparation; an agenda for social methods and findings in research will be financed for the first development. We worked hard, long timei country assistance strategies in days and nights, and many were the all six regions must address the weekends when I was at the office social foundations and implications and heard the phone ring, and it of policies advocated; national was you from Bejiing, Cairo, or resettlement policies will be London, asking if the memo or approved in Colombia, Jamaica, report was ready to go the following and elsewhere. Monday! It was. These and scores of other Working with you, Michael, I trans formative intiatives are being learned how to root social policy in fostered by more than 100 social firm commitment to first principles, scientists now in the Bank, to graft design elements onto key colleagues who followed the path strategic trunks and branches, and to you first opened three decades ago. nurture both root and branch with uncompromising intellectual and I know that I speak for many others personal integrity. when I say: Thank you for showing us the way, thanks for your Once, when we stood together on companionship and camaraderie, the rim of a vast river valley in India, thanks for your humanism and your we marveled at the sweep of history wisdom, thanks for your intellectual reflected in the temples and towns acumen and spirit, thanks for your below and the sheer inexorable indefatigable strength, thanks for power of the forces that were about never accepting no for an answer, to wipe them from the face of the and thanks for your faith in us. earth. We dreamed at that moment of a future day when those powers and forces could be turned toward Bill Partridge constructive, rather than destructive, Sector Leader, Argentina-Field development alternatives. That day Latin America and Caribbean Region is near, my friend, because of your Buenos Aires, Argentina efforts. 16 Ask the Right Questions, Irritate the Right People When I joined the Bank in the cost?" Michael is leaving a early 1980s, Michael was a professional legacy in an institution spokesman in the Department of where legacies are not easily Agriculture and Rural Development recognized or accepted, especially (AGR) for small farmers. In when related to the sociology of reviewing new projects Michael was development. But Michael did it. expected to ask "What are we doing for the small farmers?" "How do you I have worked with Michael and know it will serve the small farmers traveled with him to interesting when you do not have field data places. We were once in Aleppo, about who the small farmers are, Syria. He applied the usual thorough where they live, and why they are investigative method he employed doing what they are doing?" He when studying R&R cases to the always asked the right questions, quality of goods in antique shops in irritated the right people, but got his Aleppo. One thing is sure about message through. Michael, whether he is working on social development, on R&R Michael shifted his energy and projects, or selecting artifacts from interest and concern to document the an antique shop, he is consistent, impact of the Bank's irrigation serious, persistent, drives the shop projects on small and poor owner crazy, and comes home with communities. He established his the prize. intellectual habitat in the resettlement area. He encroached on Many years ago I came to appreciate the engineers and the project gurus Michael's international reputation. who only worried about the simple As I was eating lunch with a French cost-benefit analysis. Michael always professor in the I cafeteria, Michael asked: "Who is paying the real walked by carrying his tray of 17 healthy food (and nibbling while Wherever he works, Michael leaves waUking). llle French professor a professional mark. I am sure things jumped from his seat and ran after will not change when he retires, Michael to shake his hand. When he because this what makes Michael returned to the table, the professor what he is: a man with a mission. was telling me proudly that he once worked with this famous European professor of rural sOciology, Dr. Shawki Barghouti Cernea, and advised me to go and Director-General, IeRISAT meet him. Andhra Pradesh, India 18 What Michael Does Know Maybe Michael doesn't know it, I say strange also because the but in 1986, inspired by him, a small documents of this Cemea spoke of group of us working on social putting people first, of consultation impacts of hydroelectric projects in with and involvement of the affected Colombia embarked on an people in the mitigation of irreversible process. Big things begin undesirable impacts and of making like this - small and always pushed them the first beneficiaries of energy by crazy visionaries. projects. And this was quite strange in an environment in which" people" At that time, Shelton Davis and Scott and "beneficiaries" were defined as Guggenheim were in Colombia "consumers of electricity," but not as trying to remedy the injustices to those who ceded their lands and poor peasants displaced by natural resources and who made development projects. It was through enormous personal and communal them, part of that band of crazy sacrifices to make possible electric visionaries, that documents written light and energy for industries and by one Michael Cernea began to fall homes of the city. into our hands. The seeds planted by the ideas and They were strange documents to me recommendations of Michael Cemea because until then the messages of did not fall on arid ground, but in the World Bank that circulated in the fertile soil. In those days, Colombia electricity sector in Colombia spoke had quite a pioneering law intended of finance, economics, tariffs, power, to mitigate deleterious social impacts and energy, but not of common caused by energy projects, and people, nor of the families and local the first teams of social scientists communities that suffered physically charged with introducing the social the social and economic effects of dimension into energy generation energy projects. projects had started being established 19 in power enterprises. However, entrepreneurs involved in resettlement issues were still treated construction of public infrastructure. in an ad-hoc manner. At the beginning of 1997, a non- governmental organization of Two years later, in 1988, thanks to Colombia supported by the Bank the insistence and support of Scott will begin the first systematic Guggenheim, we designed the first training and capacity-building resettlement policy for the Colombian program for resettlement, first at the Energy Sector, which opened up a national level and later for the new era and a broad dialogue at the region as a whole. national level that involved all of the energy sector firms as well as the Maybe Michael doesn't know it, central government, environmental but the next phase will be the design authorities, nongovernmental and approval of a national organizations, etc. Michael probably resettlement policy by the Ministry did not know, but the Resettlement of Environment of Colombia that is Policy for the Colombian Energy -expected to cover not only Sector was approved and a new populations affected by development generation of projects began to be projects but also the hundreds of evaluated, utilizing not only thousands of families and technical and economic criteria but communities forcibly displaced by also social and environmental ones. ethnic, political, and economic conflicts. Maybe Michael doesn't know it, but his messages, combined with I know very well that Colombia is not messages from other visionaries, the only place where the seeds were only the beginning of a planted by Michael Cemea have marvelous process that today, ten given flowers and fruit. Many years later, is bearing unforeseen countries of the world, like fruits. The Government of Colombia, Colombia, have followed his with the support of the Bank, is now teachings. But I refer here to the formulating a national resettlement example of my country, because I policy for all infrastructure can give personal testimony since I investments, establishing norms and have had the luck to coordinate procedures that will cover not just this process and continue being part the public sector but also private of it. 20 But what Michael does know is that this is only the beginning of bigger Maria Clara Mejia efforts to give voice to the voiceless. Social Scientist And to make this goal a reality we Environmentally and Socially continue to count upon his Sustainable Development leadership. Latin America and Caribbean Region 21 I would like to congratulate Michael The airport was closed for several for his valuable contribution to the hours because of a sandstorm over motivation of Bank engineers to Beijing. Past midnight, the group, consider the social aspects of with other passengers, was irrigation. It is easy for Michael to transferred to an airport hotel, convince his own peers, sociologists where we were told to share rooms. and anthropologists. But to have Thanks to the diplomatic skills of our converted so many hard-nosed Bank Chinese hosts, and Michael's social irrigation engineers - often labeled skills, the issue was satisfactorily as brick-and-mortar specialists - to resolved. On our arrival in Xian, 12 an understanding of the social hours late the next day, the agenda dimensions of irrigation systems, and was rearranged and we even found particularly of the importance of the time to visit the Qin Shi Huang's water user organizations, has been Musuem of the Terra-Cotta Warriors one of Michael's very irriportant and Horses. Two days later, we achievements. If I can express a wish, were on time at the airport for our it is that the social experts, in their next leg, to Wuhan on the Yangtse tum, better appreciate the River. The plane was on the tarmac. importance of sound engineering Weather was perfect. Takeoff time and have themselves become passed while workers nonchalantly proactive in promoting engineering worked on the pilot's windshield. that leads to systems manageable by Three hours later, we boarded the users. another plane because they could not replace the defective wipers. I would like now to evoke a few When approaching Wuhan under a memories of the study tours in very heavy rainstorm, we better China and Mexico: appreciated the maintenance concerns of China Airlines. The 24 participants in the China study tour were divided into two groups. Michael's group, which I led, went to Beijing airport late one Herve Plusquellec evening to fly to our first stop, Xian. Rural Development Department 24 ~""! If _ ~~ !IiI""~ ., t . . •. •. _ __ _._'u....._._______, , ____.__"_._ra__._'_,.._t..",. ____ _ _ __ . _ _ __.,.__ .. ___ ._~""-',"'" Resettlement Review I first came across Michael Cemea perspectives of the various when I was working on Africa, a stakeholders. His capacity for work, continent he knows well. I found him his collegiality and his willingness to to be persuasively devoted to his take advice were noteworthy. I can profession and profoundly convinced well remember him, eyes dancing, that he can make a real difference to hair disheveled, literally pulsating the lives of poor people. I especially with excitement as we approached like his professionalism - almost the final moments when the report eccentric these days when we are was being given its final touches late constantly driven to focus narrowly at night. Michael was there to the on the essentials" and simplify 1/ very end, supervising the task, matters too complex to be reduced to utterly determined to ensure it came a crude bottom line. out just right. That is Michael-a true professional and a passionate My most extensive exposure to advocate of what he believe in. I Michael was during the drafting of wish him many more years of writing the resettlement review in 1993/94 and research. I'm sure there is much - as tricky a set of policy issues as more to come. one is ever likely to meet in the Bank. I helped Michael to navigate through these treacherous waters Pierre Landell-Mills and was impressed by his principled Country Director determination to bring out the truth, Bangladesh Country Unit however embarrassing, and to build South Asia Region on the issues learnt, sensitive to the Dhaka, Bangladesh many nuances and differing 25 Januaryl Who but Michael would have good drinks, and good talk. Since thought to invite dozen of Bank the majority of participants belonged colleagues on January 1? to the NESS outcaste (vernacular for Non Economist Social Scientists!), For many years, he and his wife the food was spicy, the drinks spiky, brought together social scientists and and the talk above average. kindred spirits (some may even have been economists) to celebrate the Independent evaluators rated both rites of the "first afternoon after Michael himself and his parties as New Year's Eve" together. outstanding! Regardless of age group, ethnic origin, and even gender, all Josette Murphy participants honored the three Country Evaluation and Regional Relations pillars of the party ritual: good food, Operations Evaluation Department 27 Masterful Dancer Michael is a great dancer. He is (literally and metaphorically). He elegant, loves Gypsy music, and can took everyone on board one way or tango. In group dances he is equally the other; he never gave up. masterful- just give community Remembering Michael and the great dance around him. His dancing has admiration he had for the Bank, I always been a great source of responded to the manager by inspiration for me, and once it even reminding him that since he could helped me to deal with a conflict count up to 3, he could have learned situation with some sense of humor. to dance and that the Bank even offered classes for ballroom dancing. Once upon a time, a Bank manager But because I do not dance well, my who had a distinct dislike for my remarks only led to a more rapid type of social science work told me departure from the particular unit I how wonderful it would be if I was working then (and thank God moved on. He said that although we for it). were both from Harvard, perhaps because we were of different disciplines we could not dance Ayse Kudat together. Then, I remembered Sector Leader Michael and how well he danced Social and Economic Development Group Middle East and North Africa Region 29 The Biting Flea ... Last week, at the ESD conference already feeling sad that our own on rural well-being, I heard an "flea" is leaving and we may be less extraordinary talk by the president of challenged to reflect more on the the MacArthur Foundation. She impact of our work on people's lives. enumerated a half-dozen objectives, one of which was" to be a flea" to I will see you on the 29th and miss international and national you thereafter. Will you be doing organizations. That is, to make us feel some further work with us? somewhat uncomfortable, in order to better reflect on our work. Alberto Harth As she said this, I thought of you. Technical Specialist Now that I've gotten the invitation Water and Urban, Africa Region to your "retirement" party, I'm 31 Toughening up the Bank I remember when Michael Cernea I suppose the ultimate accolade came to the Bank, where he was came when an assistant director for greeted with a combination of agriculture and rural development indifference and mild suspicion. (who shall remain nameless) offered Old hands - nurtured in colonial to swap two budget slots for administrations - saw him as a symbol agriculturists for Cernea and his slot. of the softness" of the Bank in its II Needless to add, the offer was concern about the rural poor. Their refused, thus enabling Michael to suspicions were fanned by the fact go from strength to strength in that he came from a communist developing Bank policies within our country and all that entailed! central department, initiating resettlement policies, etc. Happily for all concerned, Michael proved his personal worth and won In so doing, he has brought luster to over many of his critics. He made the Bank and to himself. sociology, and by proxy anthropology, respectable by showing agriculturists how it could help in the project cycle. Anonymous 33 Michael in Yemen We asked Michael to come to old palace of the Imam in the Yemen and help us with one project medieval city of Sana' a. - and we ended up with two. Before we knew what was happening, Michael was talking to There was a problem in Yemen with the Deputy Prime Minister about the effects of denationalization of land. initiating a special project to save the Thousands of families that had farmed Old Historic Cities of Yemen. The the land during the socialist era in the World Bank Regional Vice President South were evicted by returning was mobilized. The donors were owners. We asked Michael to come brought on board, again by Michael. and help work out a policy and ways The responSible division chief to alleviate the poverty of these very received messages from above but poor people and to reinsert them into muttered, "For us it is not a the productive economy. priority." But he was taken in hand by Michael, attended a qat chew with But while he was here, Michael the Shaykh of Sana' a - and came out became interested in the crumbling saying, Let' s do this project!" II but beautiful old cities of Yemen. Together we visited the old city of Now we are working on it, scholars Shibam in the Hadramawt, called by are lined up, resources are the profane common herd" the mobilized, donors are coordinating. Manhattan of the Desert," called by The project is still not in the lending Michael, that arbiter of elegance in program- but it surely will be as writing, the "earliest and first Michael is still working on it (by the expression of verticality in Yemeni time this publication goes to print, domestic architecture." And the project is already in the lending together we stayed overnight in an program; the first project mission 35 went to the field, and preparation by just ask you to imagine it, as I am local Yemeni specialists is already sure you can. under way). Christopher Ward This serious memoir of a wonderful Principal Operations Officer man should be completed by a Rural Development photo of him taken . . . at target Water and Environment Group practice with an AK-47 rifle in a cafe Middle East and North Africa Region in Shabwa. But the photo is on the Sana'a, Yemen high seas in my heavy luggage and I 36 This May Be a Myth, but ... My absolute favorite story about down and making really threatening Michael is one that took place when tank noises. I wasn't there. It's probably not true. What would a normal person do? Tum around and drive home as fast In the late 1970s, years before as he could, that's what. Not discovering beautiful old Yemeni Michael. He gets out of the car, silver work, Michael was off doing marches up to the Pakistan- the fieldwork for what became his Afghanistan border and then across articles on social forestry somewhere it, and starts speaking to the tank in Northern Pakistan. Because of squadron's commander - in fluent ferment in Afghanistan, the Afghan Russian, of course. Great stuff, think frontier was closed. Candy to a the soldiers-what's so surreal about baby. One evening Michael slipped a chauffeur-driven Romanian away from his government chattering about user groups and entourage, got in a car with just social infrastructure on the morning of himself and a single driver, and the Russian invasion of Afghanistan? drove most of the night to see what Soon Michael's snapping photos of an the Afghan border looked like. entire tank crew, scooping Time, Newsweek, and even People magazine. Imagine his surprise, as the sun rose up in the cold Afghan sky, to see the Don't think the story ends there. ridge lined with row upon row of Eventually a tank commander steel gray tanks! Even more catches onto the commotion being surprising, they weren't manned by caused by Michael and his pals, and Afghans. They seemed to be comes marching over to confiscate Russians, in full battle armor and his film. Michael argues vehemently getting ready to fire, or at least -he's a World Bank staff member, cranking the gun barrels up and Russians can't do this to people, 37 there's an Operational Directive on But Michael had already hidden the film destruction ... you name it. To film in his pocket. no avail. The commander rips out the film, storms away, and orders Scott Guggenheim Michael to leave the area Senior Social Scientist immediately. Social Development Sector Unit East Asia and Pacific Region 38 Speaking Out for Our Institution- and for Development .As I was cleaning out old files To those of us concerned about the recently, I came across this exchange Bank's interaction with the rest of the of letters from 1989, between me, world, you have been a marvelous Charles Perry (UNDP), and Bill example of the great strengths this Stanton, the President's Adviser. institution possesses- but all too rarely exhibits! So, thank you, both I give this letter to you only now as a personally and institutionally, for all tribute and a memory, not because it you have done to strengthen the is unusual, but because I recall understanding of development issues receiving many such letters reflecting and the World Bank itself. similar sentiments from outside audiences you have publicly Best wishes for a busy and fruitful addressed. "retirement." I look forward to seeing more of you while in You were then, as you are now, an retirement than I did recently enormously valuable source of around here. original, thoughtful, stimulating, compassionate, and insightful Alexander Shakow commentary on important Executive Secretary development issues. Development Committee 39 ~------~~ F .. -c~_~~_ Ck=:"J . Mr. J. William Stanton Counselor to the President The World Bank Dear Bill, I would like to express our appreciation for the superb pre- sentation made by Mr. Michael M. Cernea at the Georgetown University Symposium on Internally Displaced Person, held in Washington this week. Mr. Cernea brought home, in quite a dramatic fashion, the needs of displaced persons whose condition is caused by deve- ((J lopment programmes. Many in the field of assistance for refu- gees and displaced persons had never thought in the terms ( described by Mr. Cernea. His recommendations for action were \ greatly appreciated. / This is an outstanding representative of the World Bank. r Father Harold Bradley had told me that you were respon- ~"'I sible together with Alex Shakow, and for this, I salute you. All ~ my best wishes, I Charles L. Perry Director, UNDP ( 40 Expanding NESS (Non-Economic Social Science) in the Bank I just want to add my voice to that of have managed to engineer were others in thanking you, Michael, for instrumental in my own decision to the inspiration and leadership that join and work with the Bank. you have provided over the years in expanding the role of non-economic social science in the Bank and the wider development community. David Marsden Senior Anthropologist I personally have followed your Social Development Sector Unit work closely over the last decade South Asia Region or so, and the changes that you 41 N ever Easy to Be a Pioneer It is difficult to imagine the World associated with you almost from the Bank without you. Certainly, it would very early days. be a different institution if you hadn't been there. You managed, regardless If one of your wishes is to do more of all the obstacles, to give it a teaching, don't forget us here at conscience, almost despite itself, Duke University. and succeeded. It has never been easy to be a pioneer Francis J. Lethem and I am grateful to have been Duke University 43 Doing Great Things Ten Years before Everybody Else We shall be paying tribute, are one of the few who has been Michael, to your extraordinary able to make a visible impact, single- contribution to the Bank during the handedly, on the way the Bank last 22 years, and I want to associate thinks and works. myself warmly to that. Doing great things is not easy, but I wonder why is it that the youngest Michael has done great things ten minds around should be going away years before everyone else, and that because of an irrelevant statement on is truly remarkable. birth certificates.... But I hope that we shall still continue to benefit from your advice. Maryvonne Plessis-Fraissard I want to reiterate here how much I Sector Manager, Transport have valued your work, since you Africa Region 45 Institutions Don't Retire In fact, I can't believe you're retiring, It will be much harder to persevere Michael. I mean, institutions don't in delivering resettlement training retire - they reorganize. And I'm without you, but I will do my sure you will use your time to damdest to make sure the program reorganize a lot of things. continues. Let me take this opportunity to thank Gordon Appleby you for all of the support you have Environment and Natural provided me over the years, Resources Division especially here in the Bank. Economic Development Institute 47 Putting People First Dear Michael, By a strange coincidence I am in D.C. on the day of your retirement and so can add my good wishes to those of your many friends in the Bank. You were instrumental in bringing David to the Bank 10 years ago, thus enabling him to spend what proved to be his final years among fellow professionals. Through our many years in the field he most regretted his isolation from the stimulation of like-minded social scientist associates. Wash- ington gave him that and it made a great difference to his working life. Personally, I have long wanted to thank you for the letter you wrote when you learned of David's illness. You were the first to brave the near- impossible task of letting him know that you cared and putting words to a heartfelt goodbye - "with a huge and warm bear hug," I think you said. Your appreciation of his work and clear warmth for the strong man he was brought tears to my eyes. We hugged each other rereading your words. ) ~ If David were here today, he would have some typically pointed humour with which to speed you on you way. I'm not up to that, but I know he would want me to say, "Go well, Michael, and our ygry best wishes go with you." You should know that I chose your own phrase for David's memorial - Putting People First" is carved below his name. II I hope you find pleasure and satisfaction out there and time to rest and reflect and simply enjoy. ( \ Gwen Butcher United Kingdom 49 Professional Integrity Michael, You truly were a pioneer in the Bank. Like all the pioneers, you have had a fair share of rough times, but you kept your professional integrity. My salute! We'll miss you. Hatsuya Azumi Senior Adviser Economic Development Institute 51 Your Efforts Influenced My Decision I have just received the news that you You are going to be missed. I hope are retiring and I cannot but regret it. the change is for the best to you, so let me wish you good luck in your It was Scott Guggenheim who first future life. introduced me to your efforts to incorporate social issues in the Bank. The idea that I could contribute, if only a bit, to your efforts influenced Maria Elena Castro my decision to join the Bank. From Environmentally and Socially that moment I kept the feeling that Sustainable Development you were supporting all of us in the Latin America and Caribbean Region social team, even if we did not have a direct work relationship. 53 The Epitome of Professionalism - and a Friend I am mostly sad, but also glad, about In fact, I envy you on this second your leaving the Bank, Michael. score and hope that I will measure up to your record and achievements the It is sad to see a person I considered day I retire. So all the best from a to be the epitome of sociological friend. professionalism and integrity and also a friend leave the institution that Mamadou Dia you served so well. But glad also Country Director, Country Team because I consider this to be welcome Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone rest and recuperation for a well- Africa Region deserving fighter. 55 We Hold Michael Personally Responsible Your departure is surely a sign of people, and a really dedicated and an era gone by (and the new times supportive management. are already beginning to solidify). I have had 3% tremendously On a personal note, I would like to interesting years, a truly fascinating thank you very much for having learning experience. Thank you spotted me down there in Zurich again. and managing to get me over here. And I might add, Deepali holds you personally responsible for the two of us meeting. Lars Soeftestad Environment and Natural I am now in ASTEN. This is a great Resources Division place to work, a good group of Economic Development Institute 57 You've Changed a Lot of People's Lives Congratulations on your that I associate with you nor how I retirement from the World Bank! predict this next stage in your life You can look back on your will be! I'm sure you'll be quite busy, extremely productive and and I hope you use your new meaningful Bank career with a great freedom to realize your dreams, sense of accomplishment and pride both professional and personal, and and know that you have changed a to enjoy life! lot of people's lives for the better. Lauren Fredman Although you may be retiring from Business School the Bank, "retiring" is neither a word University of California at Los Angeles 59 Words from Colleagues and Family The Retirement Party for Michael M. Cernea Tributes by: Ismail Serageldin International Agricultural Research Gloria Davis Centers and know Michael also James Wolfensohn wanted to show up here: we see this Andrew Steer as a form ... of voluntary Wilfried Thalwitz resettlement! Come and be with Dana Cemea Michael in this moment. Now, Montague Yudelman indeed, we have a lot to say: I think Andrei Cemea that even if we were to stay all night, Jonathan Fredman we would never do justice to Caio Koch-Weser everything we have to say. There was a lot of discussion, Isr.nailSerageldin Michael, about who would say what on an occasion like this. In the end My name is Ismail Serageldin and we said that if you taught us I'm one of the people who are anything, it was to respect pluralism, privileged to count themselves multiplicity, and diversity: let the among the friends of Michael Cemea grass roots express themselves. So today and any other day. This party today we will have a number of coincides with CGIAR week, and a people who will come forward - lot of people from many countries and I will not presume to speak on who attend the meetings of the their behalf. The first person I'm Note: This sector prOVides excerpts from the tributes of colleagues and family at the retirement party offered by the World Bank in Michael Cernea's honor on October 29, 1996. 61 going to call on is one of your closest just a few of the things that I think collaborators, Gloria Davis. So, have influenced Michael a lot, which Gloria. he brought with him from his life and experiences before the Bank. Gloria Davis Michael was born in Romania; you all know that. He was born in the Thank you, Ismail. I asked especially city of Jasi. Now this was a town to be the first person to speak today. with a very substantial Jewish The reason is that except for population, and when World War II Michael's family, whom we are very started and Michael was only ten, all happy to see here, oddly enough I've of the males, all of the Jewish men probably known Michael as long as and boys, were rounded up and anybody in this room. We actually taken to a central police place. His met in 1971 when Michael was at father was beaten and released; Stanford, so I've known him for 25 many people were machine-gunned, happy years, you remember? deported, put in sealed boxcars and carried away that day. Thousands of But I also had another reason. them never returned. This pogrom in Jasi was the beginning of the When I first met Michael, and then Holocaust in Romania. when I came to the Bank, I spent a lot of time talking to him about his own I think from this, Michael has life, about events that had been brought to us a sense that one cannot factors in making him the person tolerate injustice, that there are times that he was, by shaping his values when things are just not right and and contributing to the work that he you really have to deal with them. initiated here. He told me a lot about himself. In 1944, when the Russians advanced while the Germans retreated across It occurs to me that very few of you Romania, his family left everything have heard the story of his life, and and took refuge - they relocated to if you don't hear just a tiny bit about Bucharest, where they lived with these things, you are missing a very friends. To this, we attribute important part of Michael. So I want Michael's abiding interest in to tell you, very quickly, very briefly, involuntary resettlement. 62 Between 1945 and 1948, Romania views and his own pursuits. was a disaster area, a country in Frequently, his articles were not transition, and things were going published for a variety of reasons- from bad to worse even though it sometimes because he was Jewish, wouldn't have seemed possible. So it sometimes for other reasons. He was was with great optimism that consistently denied permission to Michael looked to the promise of travel and his advancement was socialism in Romania as a way of limited. Did he give up? Not our introducing an ideology that Michael. In spite of repression, he supported equity and rejected racial, made his name as a social scientist. ethnic, and religious discrimination. And only in 1967, through scholars Actually, this is very important to from the West who got to know his Michael. research work, he got an invitation to Paris, and if you can imagine this - I I hope some of you take the chance to mean this is a short time ago in talk to him about this, because from relation to his experience halfway this we can understand, I think in through his life-this was the first part, Michael's abiding sense that time he had ever been anywhere states ought to have an important outside the Iron Curtain. We laugh role in creating an enabling today when we see all the places in environment for people to live lives the world that he has visited. that are reasonable, free, and prosperous, and to have a just and In 1968 Michael was offered a year at equitable society. the Center for Advanced Studies in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford. Those of you who know Romania, But for the next three years he was you know that these hopes were turned down every single solitary very short-lived. Romania became time he applied to his governmental increasingly repressive and authorities for permission to travel increasingly totalitarian; prejudice outside the country. By the end of and anti-Semitism were reinforced by 1970 - after an amazing set of the state; and for literally 20 years coincidences - he was allowed to Michael could never leave the leave, though he had to leave his country. In spite of this, he did his family behind as hostages. I'm sure work. He worked in rural sociology you recognize by now that this is the and again, against overwhelming foundation for Michael's conviction odds, he continued to follow his own that unresponsive bureaucracy 63 might need just a little more work, ask him about some of these parts of more push. his history. There were interventions on Michael's behalf from McNamara, In 1973, when looking for social from his close colleagues here in the scientists for the new Rural Bank, from Hubert Humphrey - my Development Division-I'm sorry I state senator at the time-and finally don't think Leif is here - Leif he prevailed. The family was Christoffersen found Michael's name allowed to join him; we are happy to in a list of social scientists. Having see them here today, and the rest is exhausted the qualifications of most history. of the others, he tried to find Michael. Bureaucracy struck once again. I shall not tell you about his Dozens of obstacles were placed in experiences in Bank. I'm going to his way by the Romanian authorities leave that to others to do. But as is of that time when he tried to contact my wont, I have proposed a small Michael and, once they had contacted limerick, which I'm going to read him, when they tried to get back to to you at this time, that celebrates him and so forth. Then in 1974, some of the things we want to virtually by accident and perhaps remember from our experiences because the bureaucracy was trying with Michael. It's called "An Ode to to get in the way of his being with Michael" (see text on page 7). the Bank, Michael was given permission to attend a conference in Toronto. From Toronto he was Ismail Serageldin invited to the Bank, and was hired as the first sociologist in the entire A very moving description and Bank. tribute to you, Michael! Those of you who hired him deserve I know that you and I have shared credit, not only because of your good these thoughts before, but maybe choice in Michael but because of your not with the other folks here, that very good choice of disciplinary your, mine, Gloria's, and many perspective. others' prayers were answered when Jim Wolfensohn joined the For the next year and a half, Michael Bank. When asked how we measure was in the United States without his progress, Jim said, "By a smile on a family. And once again I urge you to child's face." When asked about the 64 essence of development, he said it the public lecture that you gave was social justice. Our leader Jim when you were awarded the Wolfensohn has now joined us for Malinowski Prize, and for which I Michael's celebration, precisely to congratulate you belatedly. I would share a few words on this occasion. say that really you have done a great Jim. job for this institution, in trying to keep our staff focused on critical social issues. This is allowing me to James Wolfensohn go out now and point to many of the achievements of the Bank in terms of Well, Michael, if you are the oldest our own history, in terms of our sociologist in the Bank, I am the own perceptions of the importance newest. But one of the advantages of of people and the importance of the being a president is that from my social aspects of the work that we office you can more easily deal with are doing for development. the sort of problems that you had. And so it is that since I've been here, I came in to join you here from the without really knowing a thing about middle of an argument about Bosnia, the theoretical background of a which came after attending another sociologist, or having a fraction of the meeting and another argument about knowledge that you or anybody in something else, simply because I the room has, I started with an idea wanted to get back and meet a few that I regard as being really quite people who make sense, and who care obvious: that we are here because of about the sort of things that have kept people. And we are here because we me going in these last weeks when I've care about social justice. And we are been overseas. So I've come really to here because the success of the say to you and Ruth - thank you for development projects that we do what you've done. And to express the must be measured in terms of their hope that in your new life you will still social impact. be able to keep a very close contact with us. And to say, on behalf of the I think what I'm saying in layman's non-SOCiologists in the Bank, that the terms is probably the essence of what World Bank is a much better place you think as a sociologist. I'll have because you've been here. these days a chance to look at your recent Task Force report on Social We thank you very much for the Development. I had already a look at contributions you've made. 65 I personally thank you for the advice You taught me these three things: you've given me since we first met, and the leadership you've given in First of all, if you have a clear idea of this really critical social field, central where you want to go, you can to the endeavors of our institution. change the world. Or at least you can So, thank you. change the World Bank. When you joined 22 years ago, the world was a Thank you very much and good luck different place and the World Bank in what you, I'm sure, will continue was a radically different place. As I to do. looked through, in preparation and thinking about your leaving, I looked through your various Ismail Serageldin publications, through the papers you have written, subjects just all over Thank you so much, Jim. I think you the place: users' associations, water have given us all tremendous groups, resettlement, social analysis, encouragement by your words. We postwar reconstruction, use of are most appreciative that you came knowledge, social forestry - the list to join us just now. goes on and on. But you have had a central focus to your work and As our next speaker, I have a close you've made a remarkable friend - Andrew Steer. difference. When you were awarded the Malinowski Award (which is the highest award in applied Andrew Steer anthropology in the world) last year, they gave it to you not Well, that's a hard act to follow. only because of your technical Michael, I want to tell you three contribution, but because you things that you taught me. Over the changed an institution like the World last few years, Michael has been with Bank. And we thank you for this. the department that I'm supposed to be in charge of, but Michael, certainly, The second thing you taught me: you well, I've certainly not been his boss taught me to put people first. Those of and I'm very glad about that. you who haven't been given a free Michael has taught me a lot more copy of Michael's book, you are in than I've taught him. I'm very a small minority. I have received grateful to you, Michael. his book in probably five or six 66 translations and editions, and indeed gifts I would like to give you, if you I happily paid out of my budget for would come up here right now. We some of these translations! But tried to think about what kinds of Michael, more seriously, I think gifts we should give you, and this is that what you've done for the one particularly suitable. Michael at environmental movement within the times takes the soft approach, and at World Bank has been remarkable. times takes the noisy approach. I You have helped us forge a truly would like to present to you Michael, distinctive lipeople-first environ- with one of the two gifts you are mentalism," just as earlier you going to receive, and then I would helped forge a distinctive approach like to explain why we gave it to you. to agriculture, and so on. So I'm very, very grateful. And you know, Now it's pOSSible that most people when you talk about putting people won't know what this is, but I first, one of the things that Michael guarantee Michael will know what it has done is he applied that to his is. Open it up, Michael. personal life. Michael is-and I don't need to say anything more about Michael: Oh, I know what it is! This him-is a truly genuine humane is a beautiful silver grager, or, in person, and whether it is a driver, vernacular, a noisemaker. I assume, whether it's support staff, whether Andrew, that any connection with me it's a higher-level staff, Michael has and my "noise making" is purely really cared. Michael can be very, accidental, isn't it? very difficult for some people about him. But Michael is a real joy for the Andrew: It is called a grager, yes, people who work with him and the and it is used at the festival of Purim. people who work for him. It comes from that time when Haman, as you all may remember The third thing I've learned from from the Old Testament Biblical Michael is that being a pain in the times, caused such a great problem neck sometime has high payoffs. trying to threaten the lives of and And Michael has at times been a pain eliminate the entire Jewish on the prevailing ideolOgies of this population. But he failed. Whenever institution, and from that it was the the name of Haman is said during institution that got a big payoff. the festival of Purim, you twirl the gragger to drown out his name and That leaves me, Michael, with two his effect. And Michael, I want you to 67 think about how you might use that Wilfried Thalwitz to share a few in an analogy with regard to the thoughts. things you have made noise about at the World Bank. And I tell you I don't know whether it's some narrow- Wilfried Thalwitz minded economists or whatever old stereotype about development that Michael, when I heard that you you've drowned out, but your noise were retiring I couldn't quite believe making was very constructive. It has it. I thought the only reason that you awakened many around here to possibly would have - is to stand for reality. being elected President of Romania. I just cannot image that you are going And to enable you to keep making to join the ranks of retirees who do noise even from a distance, we have not get invitations for everything, and also a second gift for you: a brand do not get to write the Bank's rules new home fax machine! and the Bank's books. And this is a reminder that I haven't even received Michael, in the Old Testament, which yet your recent book! I know you love, it is said that when you walk with a wise person you As you will retire, I'm thinking back. become yourself wiser. And as we Throughout the years, I've seen you have walked with you over the last operate in three of the Bank's regions: few years, I think that a little bit of Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe and your wisdom has rubbed off on us, Russia, as well as in the Bank's and we are very grateful. Thank you. central part, where I also once worked with you. Whenever we have worked together, it has been an Ismail Serageldin illuminating collaboration. The most important thing - here I join Andrew A person whom I admire profoundly, - is that you make people think in who has been my boss, and has come new ways. You did that to me. to elTlbody for many, many of us in the Bank a combination of judgment, I remember when we first worked on wisdom, leadership, and a profound Africa, and I think it was you who commitment to quality, is here with pointed out to me, and to many of us tonight. I would like to invite my colleagues, when you did the 68 famous Eastern Senegal Livestock own career in the Bank, the area of project, which was very good- but the former Soviet Union and South- we also did a few infamous projects Eastern Europe, where you really - that we shouldn't just take a began not only correcting our staff's western concept of a "ranch" and views, but where a whole new transplant into an African livestock structural beginning w~s made. project. You sent out a message to us, and you asked us to do our There we needed to understand projects differently, because people societies new to us, cultures new to function differently. I started us, we needed to do social analysis thinking about this and I became in a and social assessments before we way a bit of an agent of yours, of could do well any economic analysis your ideas. And this is the trick you and development. And your influence were doing to us all. It is true as was so strong that they began not only Andrew said it: you work not only to look at the ODs on resettlement that well with the people with you, you you had written, but that they began work well with people whom you genuinely to wonder when can I want to influence, and they, in tum, consult with Michael in advance before influence other people. making a mistake? I think of this as the ultimate accolade here in the Bank - Things got a little dicey in the second having somebody voluntarily region where we worked a bit consulted as an adviser, because together, Asia, and where I just barely they know the gains come from the escaped working on Narmada. association with you. Fortunately, I left before it got too hot. But I wish I had called you in a little And last, I want to talk about when earlier on Narmada's resettlement. you invited me to speak, not long There are a lot of people, in India and ago, to some social policy seminar in the Bank, who have to be grateful you organized: I was in the middle for the contributions you made when of talking, and talking, and talking in you criticized that project at its very that seminar to your Bank beginning. We would have been sociologists. I remember how better off had some people listened suddenly I thought to myself: "this is more to you, at that time. not the Wilfried that used to talk 20 years ago. I'm beginning to talk Finally, our paths have crossed again like Michael!" in the area where I concluded my 69 And suddenly I recognized that I heard everything about countless there were a lot of people in the development projects all over the room who also thought like you! world, and about his travels, And yes - I think this is the principal seminars, policy papers, task forces, legacy that you've given to the Bank resettlement, and on and on. I read his articles and, in short, it's hard for For my small part, I want to thank me to image that my father will ... you for having me here. I can't retire. imagine you retiring, but I couldn't image myself retiring, either. Thank Look what happened just last week you very much. I live in New Jersey, and last week he didn't call me at all. It's very unusual; he likes to call, find out Ismail Serageldin how his granddaughters Sarah and Rebecca are, ask me about my work We are just about to formally create He didn't call at alL So when we within our self-innovating organiza- finally spoke a few days ago, I said, tion the Social Development Family, "Tata, I thought you were gone, I and the Bank considers Michael as thought you were on mission." And the Father of Social Family in the he said, "no, no, no, you forgot: first Bank. Many of us here consider I retire, then I go on mission." ourselves members of that "family," and would agree with this new Bank My father, of whom we are very, concept. But I think that this should very proud, is not on just one be an occasion for someone who has mission: he is on a life's mission. Michael as a real father to speak here. May I call on Dana Cernea. Ismail Serageldin Dana Cernea I think my next speaker is a legend in many parts of the world, including The real challenge of being Michael's the World Bank. That's Monty daughter over the years has been ... Yudelman, who, as many of you the competition with the Bank. And may know, was the Director of the not least-to keep up with all that he Agriculture and Rural Development has been doing. Department, and after all, that's 70 where Michael Cemea came in as he could help us with some of our the rural sociologist, the very first problems - we had to deal, as I social scientist non-economist to join remember, with cooperative the World Bank. So, Monty. agriculture in Tanzania and in Algeria, and we were all having great difficulty understanding what Montague Yudelman kind of system it was. So Michael was invited to join us, and he proved One of the things I've learned from to be very successful. being away from the Bank and coming back is that my colleagues Yet I also remember that it wasn't are very interested in history, in all easy and smooth for him. When how the Bank came to be what it is Michael Cemea came to the Bank, today. So let me tell you about the many looked at him with beginning, when Michael came to the undisguised doubt and suspicion. Bank. Some of you may remember the But this didn't last too long. His first early 1970s. We didn't have then "converts" were those who had the anything even close to a social unit in chance to work directly with him. the Bank. Many of us didn't seem to have the kind of social sensitivity What was always striking about and understanding that today we Michael was his tremendous tenacity. deem to be a must. But we started to He was very tenacious: if something sense what we were lacking. So we was wrong, he tried to get it decided to hire in my department a changed and wouldn't give up. This rural sociologist. accounted for many of our department's firm social positions, After many attempts and failed and successes. His tenacity brought a interviews of you wouldn't believe better social reputation to the Bank - how many candidates, we came upon and honor to himself. Michael, whom we brought all the way to Washington-after many adventures - for a seminar and Andrei Cernea * interviews. With him it was different: all who heard him liked him, and It's so hard to speak briefly in a few after two days of intensive interviews minutes, in front of people, about we offered him the job. We hoped my father. * This and the following excerpts are transcribed from a reception offered by family and friends. 71 I've shared more than just a parental this home now. We all love him, he's relationship with him. He's been and wonderful, he has a great career, we all is my friend. Especially since I've were very happy with his successes. grown to be an adult, and have my wife and my own family. He's been But I've been expecting his birthday- just the closest and dearest friend that cum-retirement also for a strictly I could hope for. He's been a personal reason: because I've been wonderful guy, a model, has always hoping that this is the time I'll sort of known when to guide, and also get him back. known when to just let me be. And I'm extraordinarily happy to see him I'm sure I'll soon find out that the now, when he will have the time to future holds a lot of projects for him, really enjoy more his family, me, and so I'm still working on finding out his wonderful grandchildren, and what this "retirement" truly means. rest a little bit on the terrific laurels But I'm very much looking forward that he's acquired professionally. to him coming back to us, and to my own two little girls, and hanging out Again, I can only tell you that this is a with us. And just being. And just man I love tremendously and I'm telling us stories, just having, you enormously proud of. That I'm know, breakfast with us, without happy to have more of him now than having to think how we never have before. I look forward to every hour enough time to do what we want of every year that he's going to spend together. Because the Bank work was with us now. I love you very much, the thing he did first and foremost, Tata. and limitless. No matter how important for many people your work is, Tata, and we know you will Dana Cernea continue it, we don't want you to do so much of it that you'll have to You know, I've been looking forward "retire" again a second time, to retire to this landmark birthday a long, long from "retirement." time - years, years. Decades may be even more true, and this is because I So in a very selfish way I'm really, know and I love my father. He's a really happy with his retirement. I'm wonderful guy. You all, of course, very happy you are retiring, Tata. know that, or you wouldn't be in Please come back to us! 72 Jonathan Fredman Michael, but from Mic:h;ael to the Bank - is the Social Development It's a pleasure for me to follow both Task Force Report, which we all Andrei and Dana. Let me just say, know Michael triggered. I just sent Musi, we all- Judy, and I, and this report to everybody in senior Andrew and Kerry, and our sister management, and it will be sent to Lauren - we'd all very much like the Board next week you to listen to what your children said. I'm convinced, however, that This landmark report is really the you will not simply rest on your fruit of many many years of I laurels, and I, too, find it hard to Michael's work at the Bank. He was conceive of you in retirement. I do the real instigator, the real force find it possible to think of you in behind the work that was so many meaningful endeavors other prominently mentioned by Jim than the World Bank, but I'm not sure Wolfensohn in his speech to all the that any of us will reconcile to accept governors, at the recent Annual a non-retirement retirement. To the Meetings, when he talked about the extent that yO'll can, take the time, paradigm shift and the social relax, enjoy your wife, enjoy your dimensions of development, which children, enjoy your whole family, we now have to address and and every once in a while take a mainstream, or which we already break from writing and working. have. I witnessed when Michael talked to Caio Koch-Weser Jim Wolfensohn earlier when Jim came to the Bank-it was last I must say, Michael, in response to December and in February of this your children, that for those of us year-and left such a great from the Bank who get to see you impression on Jim that he retire, the real question is how to find immediately asked me to help good ways for you to help us constitute a task force that would continue the fight that you carried look into the social development on so well. To carry it on in new and work of the Bank And this report many different ways, because the that you gave the Bank recently is biggest gift at this birthday actually really the fruit of that initiative you - it's not a gift from the Bank to took addressing Jim. 73 What worries me a lot now-and Monty Yudelman just reminded me that's why I wanted to speak - is that that when you·joined some people ahead of us now is implementation. didn't even know what a rural Indeed, we will need your help in sociologist was! They called you thinking through how we can make a ... "rural socialist." I think that by sure this happens. This Social now, due to you, everyone knows Development Report is a great new well what a SOciologist is, how beginning. I think it builds upon sociology can help the Bank's work what we have done and learned And we will have to implement and about social and cultural issues in develop further the knowledge you the years since you joined the brought and created. Bank - I must say the two decades that you have been here - and I'm So I wish you full-heartedly all the sure it will take us much farther best. But remember-we'll need along this road. your help. 74