Suchergebnisse

On 15 May 2016, the Arab-American community lost one of its most prominent and admired members, the renowned diplomat, academic, journalist, and intellectual, Clovis Maksoud. In addition to his distinguished service as Arab League ambassador at the United Nations, to the United States, and to India and Southeast Asia, Maksoud was a lifelong advocate of the Non-Aligned Movement, Arab nationalist, and champion of the Palestinian cause. In this remembrance, colleague and Arab-American activist Khalil Jahshan eulogizes Maksoud with both warmth and humor.

TEXTUAL EXEGESIS IS USED TO SHOW THAT MARX'S CONCEPT OF SOCIAL LABOR IS TRANSHISTORICAL, REFERRING TO A COLLECTIVE ACTIVITY OF HUMANS AS A SPECIES. THE COLLECTIVE NATURE OF LABOR IS SUSPENDED IN CAPITALIST PRODUCTION BECAUSE OF THE ANARCHIC CHARACTER OF MARKET RELATIONS. BUT THE SUSPENSION IS SKIN DEEP: THE SOCIALITY OF LABOR ASSERTS ITSELF IN A MEDIATED MANNER THROUGH THE ALIENATED EMPOWERMENT OF GOODS WITH VALUE. THIS IS COMMODITY FETISHISM, WHICH VANISHES WHEN RELATIONS OF PRODUCTION BECOME ACTUALLY COLLECTIVE - MATCHING THE TRANSHISTORICAL ESSENCE OF LABOR. MARX'S CONCEPT OF SOCIAL LABOR IS ADJUDGED INADEQUATE. IT AMOUNTS TO ASSERTING THAT THE ACTIONS OF AGENTS COULD BE EX ANTE CALCULATED ACCORDING TO A GLOBAL RATIONALITY. IN THIS RESPECT, MARX'S CONCEPT OF SOCIAL LABOR IS REMINISCENT OF THE EQUALLY DEFICIENT NOTION OF PERFECT COMPETITION IN MAINSTREAM NEOCLASSICAL ECONOMICS.

This text provides an integrated view of energy systems and urban planning, supported by extensive data, references, and case studies. Dealing mainly with cities in developing nations, the book looks at various energy sources, and the ways they can be integrated for sustainability, affordability, and overall efficiency. It presents case studies to show how concepts of urban energy efficiency are being implemented. It discusses green buildings, urban transportation systems, and explains ways to optimize them from an energy point of view.