Books by Laurence J. Brahm

Laurence J. Brahm is a global activist, international crisis mediator, political economist and author. A lawyer and economist by profession, during the 1990s he served as an advisor to the central banks of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, guiding them on financial reforms in their transition from socialism, and to Mongolia on enterprise restructuring. Brahm advised China 's leadership on state-owned enterprise reforms throughout the 1990s. During this period he advocated practical solutions to development as alternatives to those espoused by the Washington Consensus and stood up against "shock therapy." Since 2002 Brahm has worked in the Himalayan plateau, evolving new models of cultural and ecotourism development through heritage restoration boutique inns, pioneering micro-equity projects for marginalized women and the handicapped, and organizing rural medical and educational outreach programs. Brahm founded the NGO Shambhala. He has also served as interlocutor and bridge between Beijing and Dalai Lama in their negotiations, and worked with Nepal's Maoists during their transition from guerilla fighters to a legitimate political party in a democratic system. Author of more than 20 books on the Asian region, Brahm has covered a wide spectrum of topics in his writings. These include economic development, financial reform and monetary policy in China and Southeast Asia, as well as new-era travel in Tibet. Brahm is a columnist and commentator for Hong Kong South China Morning Post and for ReviewAsia magazine. He divides his time between Lhasa and Beijing.