The aim of this book is to sustain the Mong cultural practices. It is based on the roaring views of fifteen Mong traditional leaders about the oral and cultural practices of the Mong people in the U.S. Maintaining the cultural legacies of a group of indigenous people such as the Mong Americans is imperative since they have more than 5,000 years of cultural traditions. The cultural and oral practices of the Mong New Year celebration, marriage custom, and traditional funeral rituals have been challenged as a result of the Mong migration from China, often through other host countries, to the United States. The Mong traditional leaders have been the vocal voices that are influential in regard to maintaining the Mong traditional culture. Roars of Traditional Leaders discusses this leadership role, a key component of organization development and transformation, played by contemporary leaders in the challenge of sustaining the Mong’s rich cultural traditions in America. Leaders will have to come together in the discussion of cultural practices and traditions in the century to come.

Anagarika Dharmapala (1864–1933) was a leading Sinhalese Buddhist reformer and national activist who ranks high among the makers of modern Buddhism. The Lion’s Roar is one of the first detailed accounts of Anagarika Dharmapala’s life and the pioneering role he played in the Sinhalese Buddhist nationalism at a time when resistance to colonial rule was mainly confined to the elite. The book explores his lifelong struggle for re-establishing Buddhist management of their own sacred places under Hindu control, particularly the Mahabodhi site in Bihar, India. Dharmapala’s association with the Bengali intelligensia, the ‘bhadralok’, and close interactions with Gandhi and Nehru in India, where he spent a greater part of his life, form an interesting part of the narration. Using a rich variety of primary sources, most importantly, Dharmapala’s diaries, the book situates his life within the socio-political and cultural ethos of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and chronicles the zealous efforts of a Buddhist crusader and monk who wished to reform the religion in his native land and propagate it in the Western world.

Despite Asia's protracted economic troubles, the region is poised to recover and perhaps become stronger than ever. This timely work identifies the major challenges facing Asia's Four Tigers (Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, and Hong Kong), Japan, China, and their Southeast Asian neighbors (Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines) as the region increases it role and stature on the world stage. Highly regarded Asia policy makers and opinion shapers consider such key questions as: What is the appropriate response to China's ascent? Are there prospects for U.S.-Asian partnerships (in such areas as the environment)? Is economic cooperation between both sides of the Pacific realistic? How can Americans gain from Asia's attempts to rebuild her institutions? And will East Asia and the United States adjust to a multi-polar security and economic milieu?

The captivating life story of renowned Buddhist activist Sulak Sivaraksa. His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama: “I believe [Sulak] and I share a conviction that if we are to solve human problems, economic and technological development must be accompanied by an inner spiritual growth. And if we succeed in fulfilling both these goals, we will surely create a happier and more peaceful world.” Matteo Pistono’s deft prose weaves together the story of Sulak Sivaraksa’s years of social-justice work and his tireless campaigns to effect change. As a seminal figure in the world of socially engaged spirituality, Sulak has given us a blueprint for peaceful, nonviolent activism in the twenty-first century. More than forty vintage photos illustrate both his life and a turbulent period in Thailand’s history.

This book examines the ongoing resurgence of traditional power structures in South Africa. Oomen assesses the relation between the changing legal and socio-political position of traditional authority and customary law and what these changes can teach us about the interrelation between law, politics, and culture in the post-modern world.

Roar of the Lion Head Cane is saturated with magic - African magic. From his birth, Izzi, the protagonist becomes a player in the archetypal battle between good and evil as his maternal grandmother seeks his blood, and his paternal grandfather defends his life. The story moves through the boy's youth to his initiation and mastery, helped by the Lion Head Cane. Douglas, the storyteller, is a development professional whose life in Africa brings him into contact with magic, especially Izzi's. Spanning a period of almost three decades, the novel weaves this story of witchcraft within the historical reality of the struggles for independence and post-colonial wars of Mozambique, Liberia, and Angola. It is a story of survival and of understanding the challenges of cultural differences.