Excerpts from Walden Bello's acceptance speech at the Outstanding Public Scholar Award Panel, International Studies Association, 49th Annual Convention, San Francisco, California, March 27, 2008.  Bello was the second recipient of the award, the first being Dr. Susan George in 2007. Members of the panel honoring Bello were George; Dr. Richard Falk, professor emeritus at Princeton University; Dr. Robin Broad, professor at American University, and Dr.Barry Gills, professor at the University of Newcastle. 

I would like, first of all, to say that I am very grateful to the International Political Economy Section of the International Studies Association for this award.  I am very, very honored by the generous comments of Barry [Gills], Robin [Broad], Richard [Falk] and Susan [George].  And it really is an honor to be in the company of Susan, the first person to be given this award.  Let me just say that, especially in comparison to Susan, I am not really sure that I am the best person to be named ISA’s Outstanding Public Scholar for 2008, though I think I would consider myself a public intellectual or, as the French say, intellectuel engage—that is, one who marries analysis to action, or at least tries to.

I have been asked by Barry to share some of the lessons I have learned in my work as a public intellectual. This is not easy since although my views about things are very public, I am not used to speaking about my life in public.

Global Trends Threaten Local Initiatives

Speech delivered at the founding conference of the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict, United Nations General Assembly Hall, New York City, 19-21 July 2005. 

A speech delivered at Dalhousie University, St. Francis Xavier University, and York University, Canada, in October 2005.

I have been asked to speak on the crisis of American hegemony. In my book, Dilemmas of Domination, I identify three dimensions of this crisis. 

Speech delivered at the World Tribunal on Iraq, Final Session, Istanbul, 24 June 2005. 

Speech delivered at the ‘Karangalan 2005’ held on 21 January 2005 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. ‘Karangalan' brought together Filipino recipients of international awards in an effort to dispel the loss of confidence and collective despondence that afflict many Filipinos today.

Speech delivered in Vancouver, Canada, at an event sponsored by StopWar.ca, 18 March 2005, held on the occasion of the March 19-20 Global Protest against the War in Iraq.
 

Over the next few days, millions of people throughout the world, from Vancouver to Johannesburg, London to Manila, will be coming out to the streets to register their protest against the continuing military occupation of Iraq by the United States and its allies. In the United States alone, the last count is that there will be anti-war actions in at least 578 cities and communities.

Adapted from the author's speeches during an anti-war tour of Italy, 22-27 February 2005.

Europe and the world have witnessed over the last few days the unfolding of a diplomatic offensive that is designed to convince Europeans, "to put Iraq behind them." The effort is, in fact, geared to persuade not only Europeans but also the world that with the recent elections in Iraq, there is a new game that must be played, and the name of that game is democracy.

Based on a speech given at Linggo ng KAPP (College of Social Sciences and Philosophy Week), University of the Philippines at Diliman, 15 February 2005.

The article first came out in BusinessWorld on 21 February 2005.
 

There is a tendency to downgrade the influence of the academe on policy and on power. Indeed, we academics are often faulted for being in an ivory tower. It would be a mistake for us to believe this. It was Keynes, I think, who said that behind the most practical of politicians is the ghost of some half-forgotten philosopher. Academics or, more broadly, intellectuals have been central to the most influential movements sweeping civil society in modern and, one must add, post-modern times. Marx, of course, comes to mind, as does Keynes himself, the Cambridge don who provided the vital intellectual underpinnings of the post-World War II system managed capitalist systems in both the West and the developing world.

Speech at the Beirut International Assembly of Anti-war and Anti-Globalisation Movements, 17 September 2004.

Acceptance speech, Right Livelihood Award
Swedish Parliament, Stockholm, 8 December 2003

 
I would like, first of all, to express my profound gratitude to the Right Livelihood Foundation for selecting me as one of the awardees of this prestigious prize for 2003. I would also like to thank the Parliament of Sweden for hosting these beautiful ceremonies today. My gratitude also goes to my comrades-in-arms and fellow travelers in the movement against corporate-driven globalization, including my wife Marilen, who is here with me today.

Whenever friends, comrades, and colleagues have congratulated me on the occasion of this award, I have told them that in recognizing me, the Foundation is really recognizing the work of everyone in this burgeoning, diverse movement.

Prepared for the McPlanet Conference, Berlin, June 27, 2002.