The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has been forged in the fire of financial meltdowns, from debt emergencies in emerging markets to midnight rescues in the euro zone, explains Harold James, a senior fellow with the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) and the IMF’s official historian. In this video, he argues that the essential character of the IMF that has emerged from these episodes — a cooperative that can give credit to members in their hour of need while also dispensing financial advice — remains unique and relevant in today’s uncertain world.