I recently reviewed David Clive Price’s new book Bamboo Strong: Cultural Intelligence Secrets to Succeed in the New Global Economy. Whilst I was reading the book a number of important events took place on the global stage; Britain exited the European Union, Donald Trump’s election prospects gained momentum, racial tensions and violence took a stronger hold in the USA, the Chilcot inquiry in the UK confirmed what we already know about our political leaders being mad-as-batshit liars, whilst the federal election in my home country of Australia returned a swathe of fear merchants, hate mongers, racists, homophobes, xenophobes and religious nutjobs to positions of power.

With these events providing a depressing backdrop, Bamboo Strong provided a handful of very nicely composed paragraphs which struck me as being particularly prescient, and thankfully offer some hope in these troubled times. David Clive Price writes:

“In the thickets of stereotype, indifference, and blind hatred that we see all around us, it is the green shoots of cultural understanding, rapport, and sympathy that have the greatest chance of transforming the globe’s political and spiritual ecosystem.

We are living in a period of extreme migrations, of innocent refugees fleeing from political violence, of homelessness, and poverty, and inequality. People are crossing borders in flight from terrorist groups, from unemployment, and from injustice in numbers that are throwing up isolationists and protectionists as never before.

Xenophobia is on the march in many countries of the world. And yet, we are also living in an age of unprecedented international and multilateral cooperation. Businesses and not-for-profit organisations, educational institutions, and government agencies are collaborating in ways that are unique in history.

As the process of globalisation continues, bringing with it special challenges for intercultural understanding, I believe cultural intelligence has a special power to help people change. Companies, business leaders, entrepreneurs, politicians, and academics are all engaged in this process of change and transformation. And just like the bamboo, which grows in phases marked by stronger circles on the stem, this is a process that can only evolve one step at a time, one cultural encounter at a time, as people reach out and flex their new-found understanding.”

To read the full review for Bamboo Strong and get your free copy today simply click here.

This post was first published on LinkedIn.