Praise for the Book
“This book is three quite different – and quite wonderful – things. It is first of all a political-cultural travelogue by a professor who took advantage of a semester lecturing aboard ship to acquire penetrating insights into a dozen nations from the Caribbean south and westward to the Sea of Japan. Second, it is a richly illustrated essay on globalization – what the author calls ‘glocalization’ – vividly brought to life by his first-hand experience. Thirdly, it is confirmation to those who know Patrick Mendis of his extraordinary devotion to the best of the American ethos he adopted – and enriched – in an impressive career since arriving as a student from Sri Lanka. His book deserves a wide American audience.”
—Professor Lincoln P. Bloomfield
Professor of Political Science Emeritus, MIT
Former official of the U.S. State Department and White House’s National Security Council
Author most recently of Accidental Encounters With History
“Patrick Mendis – born in Sri Lanka, educated in America, now truly a citizen of the world – has an infectious enthusiasm for the diversity he has experienced. His informal glimpses of peoples and policies, of life and work, in a dozen countries show just how various and vibrant ‘globalization’ really is.”
—Ambassador Harlan Cleveland
President Emeritus, World Academy of Art and Science
Former U.S. Ambassador to NATO
Founding Dean, Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
“The dominant trend in international relations is undoubtedly globalization, integrating the world politically and economically, but bringing its benefits unevenly to the people of the world. There is no better equipped scholar and researcher of this topic than Patrick Mendis who was born and raised in a developing country and now lives in the heart of the developed world. Trained in the discipline of geography, Dr. Mendis’ book is a multi-disciplinary analysis that is both stimulating and eminently readable.”
—Ambassador Jayantha Dhanapala
Senior Adviser to the President of Sri Lanka
Chair, United Nations University, Tokyo
Former Undersecretary General of the United Nations
Former Sri Lankan Ambassador to the United States
“Professor Mendis has written a series of insightful essays that examine the processes of change that are occurring in various countries around the world. In this volume, he critically examines the dynamic interactions between global and local forces that are transforming these societies and cultures in unique ways, which he calls a ‘glocalization’ process. Both the author's descriptions of the various cultures and his theoretical observations provide valuable reading for our time.
—Professor George Bond
Professor of Religion and author of Buddhism at Work
Northwestern University, Chicago
“Professor Patrick Mendis clearly illustrates the interconnectivity and complexity of globalization in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. These essays reflect his eclectic academic and professional experience, including perceptive observations while teaching in the NATO countries and a United Nations study tour in the Middle East. Above all, the analysis radiates his firm belief in the importance of freedom and democracy to human progress. In these pages one learns how globalization and freedom enable and sustain international peace.”
—Dr. Michael B. Graham
Vice President, The U.S. Institute of Peace
Former U.S. State Department official
“Through the eyes of Patrick Mendis, we are given the opportunity to explore parts of the world by reading the book, Glocalization: The Human Side of Globalization as If the Washington Consensus Mattered. Patrick's eyes are the eyes of an experienced world traveler and of an educated and knowledgeable observer. If you are curious about the world, and how globalization is affecting the people of the world, read this book.”
—Professor Dean S. Caldwell
UMUC Collegiate Professor of Human Resources Management
University of Maryland
“Rabindranath Tagore once said, ‘With your mind intent, cross this sea of chaos. And sail to that shore of new creation!’ This book certainly helps us to reach the shore of new creation where globalisation will be a blessing for all.”
—Professor M. S. Swaminathan
President, Pugwash Conferences on Science & World Affairs Chair, National Commission on Farmers, Government of India Chair, The M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai
“Globalization is the wave of the future. Some fear and/or loath it for as Mendis writes in his book, ‘. . . globalization is an extent of Americanization.’ Whether this is true or not, the perception is very much out there and it is a negative one to many. The counter is to embrace globalization, as its association with the US and Western Europe is not necessarily a bad thing and it doesn’t spell the end of independent non-Western cultures. In fact, it can be a phenomenon that enriches cultures as it enriches people around the world. Mendis’ work helps to take the fear out of “globalization” through its understanding and thus its eventual acceptance.”
—Professor Harold J. Kearsley
Director, Master of Arts in Diplomacy Program
Norwich University
“As an American diplomat and scholar, Patrick presents a unique interdisciplinary and intercultural analysis of globalization in the Caribbean, Latin American, African, and Asian countries. Every American should read these stories to learn more about ourselves than other countries. After traveling to and working in more than 70 countries, this perceptive author tells you why.”
—Dr. Jerry Ice
CEO and President, USDA Graduate School
U.S. Department of Agriculture
“Professor Patrick Mendis has produced an eye-opening and insightful book about different cultures and globalization. The book is a must-have for those who are working on local, national, and international issues regardless of one's profession or specialization. It is truly an inspiring work by Professor Mendis, to whom I am also grateful for having invaluable discussion on various issues on ethnic diversity, international development, and poverty alleviation during our graduate studies at the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. The book will stimulate intellectual curiosity to further explore a host of challenging issues in globalization, which he calls ‘glocalization.’"
—Professor Miyuki Inaba
Faculty of Languages and Cultures
Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
“When he was 18 years old Patrick Mendis left his home in Sri Lanka to attend the American high school year in the AFS student exchange program. A number of years later, he returned to the U.S. for further study at Harvard, Yale, Columbia, and the Humphrey Institute. Dr. Mendis continues his life's journey as recorded in the pages of Glocalization: The Human Side of Globalization as If the Washington Consensus Mattered. His courage and thirst for knowledge as a teenager has continued into his adult life. With his wife Cheryl and two children, Gamini and Samantha, the family has traveled to more than 30 countries. Dr. Mendis continues to contribute to increasing understanding among the people of our world as an educator and public servant. The diversity of experiences written about in this book and the richness of Dr. Mendis' life shine through in these pages of shared human aspiration. That courageous 18-year old boy still lives in Dr. Mendis and we are all better for it.”
—Alex J. Plinio
President
AFS Intercultural Programs Inc., New York
“Glocalization: The Human Side of Globalization as If the Washington Consensus Mattered is truly an adventure of ideas and information. Dr. Patrick Mendis takes the reader through a compelling and compassionate voyage of discovery as he sets sail to the winds of globalization. The vast scale and scope of this work is a feast for the mind and the eyes!”
—Professor Debashis Chatterjee
Chair, Center for Leadership and Human Values,
Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow
Author of Leading Consciously
“Aftermath of the tragic Asian tsunami in 2004, I first met Dr Patrick Mendis while working on a relief mission in Sri Lanka. We both were involved in assisting Sarvodaya and other humanitarian and development projects. His breath of knowledge and unique capacity to explain complicated issues and theories – breaking them down to their base elements – is a gift, which he shared in our discussion and his writing. He has traveled the world and understands the cultural underpinnings of this complex world in which we live today. This book presents a collection of difficult and paradoxical issues in simple manner while raising another set of challenging questions to reflect on globalization.”
—Dr. William Recant
Assistant Executive Vice president
American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, New York
“Patrick Mendis is a master teacher, an excellent writer, and a world citizen. He has re-issued and revised a book that brings a human face to globalization and that, next to extensive world travel, provides as much insight as one can get on the topic. Read it for education; read it for fun; read it to help a good cause; whatever you do, read it.”
—Professor Shelton L. Williams
President, The Osgood Center for International Studies,
Washington D.C. and author of Summer of 66
“What can you learn from thoughtful, purposeful travel, and reflection? Patrick Mendis' book offers an entire volume of answers. From one country to another, he observes how hope and freedom interact with poverty, how ideology can interfere with deliberate steps to a better world. Travel with him and see what you think.”
—Professor Richard S. Brooks
University of Wisconsin-Madison
“Dr. Mendis’ book addresses very real, complex issues and cultural concerns that can only be understood by a scholar of exceptional talent and a true citizen of the world. As a quick overview of several countries of interest, this book provides a great deal of information in a concise manner. Dr. Mendis’ fresh approach to long-standing global matters should generate a wide range of discussions.”
—Dr. David R. J. Kenyatta
Director of International Programs
Troy University
“This book is ample evidence that the author is at home in the United States, Sri Lanka and in many other lands. His multi-faceted career – working with governmental bodies, universities, volunteer organizations and international institutions – is reflected here as he integrates his Sri Lankan and American values into these essays.” (From Foreword).
—Sir Arthur C. Clarke
Fellow, King’s College, London
Author of 2001: A Space Odyssey and more than 60 books
Inventor of satellite communications
“As individuals, communities, nations, and interdependent beings, we awaken each other. Dr. Mendis describes the process by which observers and travelers can learn such lessons. These are stories that must be told.” (From Afterword).
—Dr. A. T. Ariyaratne
Founder and President,
Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement of Sri Lanka
Recipient of the Humphrey and Gandhi Awards
“America's fundamental illiteracy about globalization represents a grave threat to its continued positive unfolding, for no nation does more to encourage its spread and no nation can do more to torpedo its future through bad political choices. Patrick Mendis' book helps much to combat that ignorance by providing a traveler's-eye-view of how this unprecedented change wave is reformatting the planet. We can't get enough of this sort of education.”
—Professor Thomas P.M. Barnett
Author of The Pentagon's New Map and Blueprint for Action
U.S. Naval War College
Baker Center Distinguished Scholar at
University of Tennessee