Imho, the World Bank serves the same function today as military occupation provided during past times:
Michael Hudson Discusses the IMF and World Bank: Partners In Backwardness | naked capitalism
"The purpose of a military conquest is to take control of foreign economies, to take control of their land and impose tribute.
"The genius of the World Bank was to recognize that it’s not necessary to occupy a country in order to impose tribute, or to take over its industry, agriculture and land. Instead of bullets, it uses financial maneuvering.
"As long as other countries play an artificial economic game that U.S. diplomacy can control, finance is able to achieve today what used to require bombing and loss of life by soldiers."