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IMF’s global money mission

Dominique Strauss-Kahn heads one of the world’s most powerful international organizations — one capable of loaning massive amounts of money to struggling countries.

The International Monetary Fund was created in the wake of World War II in the same spirit of cooperation that spurred the creation of the United Nations and the World Bank.

It was envisioned as a way to stabilize the global monetary system through emergency loans to forestall a second Great Depression.

The IMF also monitors the economic health of countries and offers advice on how to fix problems before they turn into full-blown crises.

The fund, based in Washington, is comprised of 187 countries, with each nation kicking in a portion to the organization’s budget determined by the size of their economy.

But the IMF has occasionally become embroiled in controversy as well — and its meetings in various countries have sparked violent protests because of accusations that it sets crippling terms on loans to developing nations.

Strauss-Kahn’s tenure has been tainted by a sex scandal and accusations that the organization was asleep at the switch during the international economic meltdown of 2008.

tim.perone@nypost.com