bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
¿Pueden los países en desarrollo ejercer influencia en las negociaciones multilaterales? Consideraciones en torno al caso argentino en la Ronda Doha (2001-2011)
Authors: Zelicovich Julieta
Published: October 2020

Las negociaciones de la Ronda Doha han sido una de las negociaciones más complejas de lasrelaciones comerciales internacionales de principios del siglo XXI. Evidencia de ello es que siguen inconclusas. Sus primeros diez años (2001-2011) mostraron el paso de una ilusión en torno a la promesa de la negociación bajo el enfoque del desarrollo, al establecimiento de límites dentro del universo posible negociado, y fialmente su estancamiento. En esos diez años los países en desarrollo han generado nuevos mecanismos de participación, que en ciertas ocasiones se ha traducido en un incremento de la inflencia sobre el proceso negociador.Con base en el enfoque teórico de Robert Putnam, en este trabajo se analiza el caso de laparticipación de Argentina en las negociaciones de Doha en temas industriales y agrícolas. Alo largo de cuatro “puntos de inflxión” sostenemos que el país ha sido capaz de desarrollardistintos grados de inflencia, en función de tres tipos diferentes de participación: una participación acotada, una participación efectiva, y una participación truncada.
Las políticas de promoción de las exportaciones en la provincia de Santa Fe, período 2008-2011. Entre avances institucionales innovadores y resultados limitados
Authors: Ferrero Guillermo Oscar , Añaños María Celina
Published: October 2020

El artículo analiza las políticas de promoción de las exportaciones implementadas por el gobierno del Frente Progresista, Cívico y Social en la Provincia de Santa Fe, durante el período 2008-2011. Para llevar a cabo el estudio fue preciso construir una base de datos propia tomando como unidad de análisis las empresas beneficiarias. A partir de esta nueva información se realizó un análisis descriptivo por: Nodos regionales, Sistemas productivos, Nivel de participación en los eventos, Nivel de internacionalización alcanzado. Se observa que los resultados obtenidos por las políticas implementadas son limitados y existen campos de acción considerables a atender en el futuro. Tal situación plantea la necesidad de que las políticas de promoción de las exportaciones realicen un proceso de maduración si es que pretenden responder eficazmente a las demandas que le presenta la compleja realidad empresarial.
Los orígenes de las concepciones políticas del kirchnerismo. La experiencia política del Ateneo Juan Domingo Perón en la provincia de Santa Cruz (1981-1987)
Authors: Sosa Pamela
Published: October 2020

El Frente para la Victoria, la fuerza política que gobierna la Argentina desde el año 2003 hasta la actualidad, surgió como fuerza política en el año 1998 en la provincia de Santa Cruz, a partir de la conformación del sublema “Frente para la Victoria Santacruceña”. Usualmente se señala el gobierno de Néstor Kirchner de la intendencia de Río Gallegos (capital de la provincia) como el principal antecedente de la conformación de lamisma. Este artículo muestra la experiencia política de los principales dirigentes de aquella organización en el Ateneo Juan Domingo Perón entre 1981 y 1987, antes de ingresar a las estructuras del Estado municipal. En contraste con los estudios que señalan que los partidos se conforman en el locus de las estructuras estatales, este artículo muestra que las principales concepciones políticas del kirchnerismo sobre cómo debe funcionar y construirse una organización, los principales rasgos de su identidad política ‒como su carácter militante‒ y sus posiciones ideológicas pragmáticas tuvieron origen antes de sus experiencias de gestión estatal y por fuera de las mismas. Las fuentes utilizadas para este trabajo fueron entrevistas semi estructuradas, revistas y diarios locales, diarios de sesiones parlamentarias, entre otros.
La producción de conocimiento en Trabajo Social: una mirada desde Bourdieu
Authors: Casá Evangelina
Published: October 2020

En el presente artículo partimos del actual debate en Trabajo  Social, en tanto profesión anclada fuertemente en el hacer y con escasas incursiones en la actividad investigativa. Para ello,  retomaremos nociones de la propuesta teórica de Bourdieu como insumo para pensar los debates y reflexiones que orientan la tesis doctoral –aún en curso– bajo el nombre de La Producción de Conocimiento en Trabajo Social: su relación con el campo académico y el de intervención. Una exploración en la ciudad de Rosario entre 1990-2010. Con tal motivo, en primer lugar nos planteamos abordar la problemática de construcción del objeto y luego, recuperar las categorías de habitus y campo de dicho autor, a los fines de emplearlas como herramientas teóricas para nuestro proyecto.
Economía política de la desigualdad en Argentina (2003-2015). Instituciones laborales y protección social
Authors: Trujillo Lucía , Retamozo Martín
Published: October 2020

Este artículo propone un análisis de la dinámica de la desigualdad en la Argentina entre los años 2003 y 2015. Se analizan tres aspectos asociados a la dinámica de la distribución personal del ingreso: las transferencias de ingreso, las políticas de jubilaciones y pensiones y el mercado de trabajo en relación con el funcionamiento de lasinstituciones laborales (sindicatos, negociación colectiva, salario mínimo y formalización laboral). El objetivo es aportar a la comprensión de los alcances y limitaciones de las políticas kirchneristas en cuanto a la desigualdad.
Arturo Fernández. In memoriam
Authors: Bartolacci Franco
Published: October 2020

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Emotion classification from EEG signals using wearable sensors: pilot test
Authors: JARILLO-SILVA Alejandro , GOMEZ-PEREZ Víctor A. , ESCOTTO-CÓRDOVA Eduardo A. , DOMÍNGUEZ-RAMÍREZ Omar A.
Published: October 2020

The objective of this work is to present a procedure for the classification of basic emotions based on the analysis of EEG signals (electroencephalogram). For this case, 25 subjects were stimulated, of whom 17 were men and 9 women between 20 and 35 years of age. The stimulus to induce positive, negative and neutral emotions with a certain level of excitation (activation) was a set of video clips previously evaluated. The processed and analyzed signals belong to the gamma and beta frequency bands of the F3, F4, P7, P8, T7, T8, O1 and O2 electrodes. The characteristic variables with the best result are the entropy of each band of each electrode. The cross validation algorithms are applied and later the main component analysis algorithm. Finally, four classifier algorithms are used: classifier trees, Support- Vector-Machine (SVM), Linear-Discriminant-Analysis (LDA) and k-Nearest-Neighbors (KNN). The results confirm that by carrying out the proposed procedure, the EEG signals contain enough information to allow the recognition of basic emotions.
Corporate Social Responsibility from an environmental approach, relations with the community and exploratory factors in companies of the manufacture sector of the northeast region of Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico
Authors: MONTALVO-MORALES Jesús Alberto , CERVANTES-AVILA Yazmin Guadalupe , MOLINA-ROMEO Víctor Pedro , MORENO-CEPEDA Reimundo , DUQUE-RETIZ José Refugio
Published: October 2020

Corporate Social Responsibility ((CSR)) linked to Business Management (BM) in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is a topic that is becoming increasingly important due to the importance they have for the national economy. The objective of the work was to determine the state of the (CSR) from an approach of environmental management and relations with the local community in a group of medium-sized companies in an industrial sector of Saltillo, Coahuila, as well as the influence of antiquity the structure of property and the gender of the Director/Manager with the development of these practices. The empirical investigation had an exploratory character and included a sample of 43 SMEs from the manufacturing sector that contribute to the growth and competitiveness of the region. The research instrument incorporated questions focused on the level of SMEs regarding risks, safety and health at work, environment and quality management. For its evaluation, contingency tables and the Mann Whitney U test were used. The results reflected an adequate work dedicated to the care, health and permanence in the position of its employees, while it was detected that there is poor environmental management and relations with the community. It is concluded that (CSR) is generally oriented to the interior of the company; the low use of this practice prevails in its business management, although an adequate approach to the client is highlighted.
Diseño artrópodo en robots móviles para evaluación de espacios confinados
Authors: ZAPIEN-RODRIGUEZ Jose Manuel , SOLORIO-DE JESÚS Bianca Azucena , NÚÑEZ-AYALA Frida Libertad , FARIAS-HINOJOZA Jhostyn Sergio
Published: October 2020

In this project, a prototype was made that is very useful in the industry of the Lazaro Cardenas region, specifically in the area of safety, both in the preparation of fertilization and in mining, given that it arises from the direct need of the worker to exposing themselves to places where pollution levels are high, and are not naturally perceptible to human smell, in the case of gases, or visibility and access, in the case of confined spaces, thus making the use of mobile robots be A viable implementation alternative to avoid puts human life at risk. By means of an ARDUINO MEGA microcontroller and six pairs of servo motors model SG90 embedded in what corresponds to the joints of the legs of the hexapod spider robot, with the appropriate programming the movement of this robot is carried out and with the help of sensors gas, temperature and humidity will be possible to prevent a large number of accidents, by detecting the presence of a gas harmful to health or a temperature at which it is impossible to work and even survive in this area. The LabVIEW program was used to program the interface of the sensors that detected any anomaly present in the environment, and thus a record of any risk can be kept.
Manipulación de 7 servomotores con FPGA iCEstick Evaluation Kit
Authors: LÓPEZ-TOLEDO Eliut
Published: October 2020

Objective. Configure a FPGA card for the manipulation of 7 servomotors of the Futaba s3003 type because these servomotors are widely used in the teaching of control and robotics. This configuration is done through the creation of various modules that allow the integration of it in various control processes. Contribution. The interface, in which the parametric and non-parametric blocks together integrate the operation of the 7 servomotors are developed, are executed in Icestudio which is a free access platform. One of these applications of this final module can be applied to a 6 degree freedom robot with final effector whose servomotors area of the Futaba s3003 type.
Propuesta de optimización de metas del área de mantenimiento mediante programación lineal por metas
Authors: HERRERA-SÁNCHEZ Gustavo , SILVA-JUÁREZ Alejandro , GALLARDO-NAVARRO José Luis , RÍOS-REYES Josué Horacio
Published: October 2020

In any organization all its processes are interrelated to achieve its strategic objectives. The purpose of this study is to propose a goal programming model for the optimization of the objectives of the maintenance area. Linear programming is a mathematical technique that allows the optimization of processes by analysing the variables involved in them through mathematical algorithms. The first stage is the formulation of the mathematical model characterized by the indicators of the maintenance area and the strategic objectives, the second stage is the solution of the mathematical model of goal programming considering different scenarios. The last stage is the validation by experts of the maintenance area before implementing it in the organizations. The expected benefit is that it is a tool for decision making in the maintenance area to consider that your activities can be optimized either to increase your benefits and / or decrease your costs through the technique of goal programming.
Sistema mecatrónico emulador de movimientos de la ATM
Authors: CORTÉS-RAMÍREZ Ulises , CASTAÑEDA-ESPINOZA Angélica
Published: October 2020

The Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) of the human being has three basic functions: speaking, chewing and swallowing; and it is formed by bone, muscle and joint structures, it has three degrees of freedom, two are angular and another one linear, during the chewing process the three degrees of freedom that make it up come into function, of which, one of the problems to solve with this project is to create a mechatronic system that has the ability to reproduce the movements of the TMJ, this so that students of the Dentist Surgeon's career, have a didactic tool of an anatomical model in which they can study and observe their movements, this movements will be generated from mechanisms operated with servomotors, this will directly impact the chairs of Prosthodontics, Orthodontics and Periodontics. On the other hand, knowing in detail the anatomy and physiology of TMJ can help the study of treatments and prevention of diseases or dysfunction of the same.
Financiamiento de las Mipymes en México y su impacto en su esperanza de vida
Authors: JIMÉNEZ-RICO Artemio , GALVÁN-ZAVALA Karina , NAVARRETE-REYNOSO Ramón
Published: October 2020

MSMEs are of vital importance to the Mexican economy, these comprise more than 99% of the total of Mexican companies, are the main generators of employment with more than 70% and generate 52% of the national GDP. Unfortunately, the lack of financing is one of the most important problems that origin a high business mortality, for example, 65% of micro and small businesses die before their fifth birthday and the average life expectancy is only 7.8 years. The objective of this research is to determine the impact of financing on the life expectancy of MSMEs in Mexico. Some results infer that the main source of financing of these businesses is not the financial institutions, on the contrary, they are the resources that their owners invest and the main impediment to not accessing external financing is the high interest rates. This study contributes to providing a broader perspective on the current conditions of MSMEs in order to improve public policies of access the financing for MSMEs to increase their competitiveness and permanence.
Virtualización de la educación media superior y superior en México: cambios y realidades
Authors: GALLEGOS-GALINDO Heriberto , AGUILERA-GUTIÉRREZ Enrique , DOMÍNGUEZ-PIZANO Luis , CASTRO-VALENCIA Alan
Published: October 2020

Virtualization, which came from the implementation of computers, has come to transform different processes in daily life, including education. Mexico is one of the countries that has adopted virtualization within its system as an effective measure to achieve better student coverage and reduce the educational gap. In addition to this, Internet access has been provided at different key points in order to reduce the digital divide. Technological changes have brought a great improvement to educational systems, although some consider that they are not really effective. Most of these changes have occurred in two main areas of education: upper and upper secondary, this is where we currently have the greatest presence and as the years go by we will have a greater presence, since virtualization will allow us to improve the options that there today. The present investigation shows a chronology of the changes that virtualization has brought to education in Mexico, as well as the reality and the changes that this has generated.
Design of a convolutional neural network for classification of biomedical signals
Authors: JALOMO Jaime , PRECIADO Edith , GUDIÑO Jorge
Published: October 2020

Biomedical signals are current case of Avant-garde study, thanks to advances in artificial intelligence, every day new methods are implemented that are useful for the treatment of this signals, mainly to detect anomalies or diseases with greater precision. A solution on base of the Deep Learning is proposed, this technology has proven to be efficient in handling high-level feature data, in it featured neural networks convolutionals (NNC) which are ideal in image management. In this paper, electrocardiographic signals (ECG) designed from a dynamic mathematical model in a two convolution layer NNC for classification are used.
Development and nonlinear mathematical modeling of a hybrid land autonomous vehicle that applies agrochemicals to ornamental plants
Authors: HERNÁNDEZ Carlos , FARÍAS Nicandro , GARCÍA Noel , BENAVIDES J. Reyes
Published: October 2020

The development of electronics, information and communication technologies have favored the dissemination of precision agriculture. While in other countries important scientific innovations are carried out and Hybrid Land Autonomous Vehicles (VATH) are used in various agricultural activities, in our country there is very little development in this regard and some of these production activities are still manual. This research presents the development and non-linear mathematical modeling of VATH for the automated application of agrochemicals in ornamental plants, for modeling the dynamics of longitudinal velocity, lateral velocity and angular velocity of turn or yaw that were simulated in SciLab are observed with the ISO 3888 standard. For the construction of this vehicle, we took an ATV and other low-cost electronic components that make it more affordable in the national agricultural industry will be considered as a motor base, compared to that proposed in other similar developments.
Construcción y control de un puente H a partir de MOSFETS para utilizarlo como inversor en el calentamiento por inducción
Authors: PÉREZ-PÉREZ Arnulfo , MARTÍNEZ-VÁZQUEZ José Merced , MORENO-REYES José Miguel , GARCIA-DUARTE Oscar Enrique
Published: October 2020

In this work, an H bridge was built and controlled to be used as a frequency variator in electromagnetic induction heating. Due different frequency values are required for this process depending on its diameter, it is necessary to adjust the pulse rate for each specific case. The H bridge was built using the N type MOSFET, model IRF640. Its driving capacity is 18 Ampere and it can operate at 200V. For its operation, the integrated circuit IR2110 was used, which can operate a MOSFETS or IGBTs bridge that works up to 500V. Pulse generation was performed with the Arduino board. As a result, a load frequency of 5 KHz was achieved, which is sufficient for use in induction heating of an inch diameter steel bar.
Análisis experimental y teórico del ensayo de adherencia capa – sustrato en un acero DIN UC1 tratado termoquímicamente por borurización
Authors: MARTÍNEZ-VÁZQUEZ J. Merced , PÉREZ-PÉREZ Arnulfo , RODRÍGUEZ-ORTIZ Gabriel , BAÑOS-LÓPEZ Esperanza
Published: October 2020

In this work, the effect of the boronizing thermochemical treatment on the adherence and surface morphology of the boride layer formed in DIN UC1 steel was evaluated. The process was carried out by packing at the temperature of 1273 K, at the times of 4800, 6000, 7200 and 14400 seconds. The HRC adherence test based on the VDI 1398 standard, was simulated in COMSOL 5.0®; analysing the effect of the thickness of the boride layer and the roughness on the Von Mises stress, in addition to the stress on the indentation footprint; in which it was observed that by increasing the thickness of the layer from 22.2 to 37.8 µm the stresses increased, and therefore the adhesion of the layer on the substrate improved, which causes only the formation of microcracks. On the other hand, in the greater layer thickness (60.04 µm) the layer delaminates. Therefore, for an industrial application of DIN UC1 steel treated thermochemically by borurization, layer thicknesses up to 37.8 µm are recommended.
The economic policy cycle and public debt in México. A retrospective analysis of 2012-2016 period
Authors: PÉREZ-CRUZ Omar Alejandro , NANDE-VÁZQUEZ Edgard Alfredo , MARTÍNEZ-VERDUGO Juan Carlos
Published: October 2020

The objective of this research is to measure the effects of intellectual capital (human, organizational and technological) on financial performance. The data belong to the economic censuses of the years 2009 and 2014 in the field of tourism, with information on hotel activities in the 32 states of the Mexican Republic. The least squares methodology was applied with adjusted panel-type errors, analyzing the human, organizational and technological influence on financial performance. The results suggest that in the first place there is the technological dimension, as it is significant in its two indicators in relation to financial performance. Second, there is the human, with two of two significant indicators. Finally, the organizational one, with one of three significant indicators in relation to the dependent variable. According to the hypotheses, technological capitals and the human capital establish a significant and positive effect with financial performance. However, intellectual capital, jointly, does strengthen finances. This work contributes, with empirical evidence, to establishing links between the different types of intangibles and financial performance, as well as helping to understand the drivers of financial performance and therefore a sustainable competitive advantage.
Neurotoxic effect of non-functionalized carbon nanospheres
Authors: KASHINA Svetlana , FLORES-VILLAVICENCIO Lerida Liss , JACOBO-AZUARA Araceli , GALINDO Rosario
Published: October 2020

Objective. Different types of nanoparticles, including carbon ones, were tested for a variety of biological applications. Alongside with promising results, some undesired side effects were disclosed. Most biological studies were performed on highly functionalized carbon nanospheres, so the main objective of this study was to assess cytotoxicity of unfunctionalized carbon nanospheres synthetized by sol-gel method. We hypothesize that unfunctionalized material will present different cytotoxic pattern on cell culture. Methodology. 3 carbon nanosphere materials were synthetized by sol-gel method. Particles shape, size and functionalization were assessed. Cytotoxic effect of synthesized materials was evaluated on SH-SY5Y cell line using XTT and crystal violet assays and imaging. Contribution. In this work we have demonstrated that cytotoxic effect of carbon nanospheres can be attenuated by varying the conditions of synthesis.
Mapas dialectales 4. Mapa palatalización de la terminación -as.
Authors: Cuadros Muñoz Roberto
Published: October 2020

Animación didáctica que trata sobre el ALEA. Atlas lingüístico y etnográfico de Andalucía.
En este vídeo, concretamente, se habla sobre el especial interés que tiene el peculiar tratamiento de la terminación castellana -as, en determinadas localidades andaluzas
Mapas dialectales 9. Mapa del yeísmo
Authors: Cuadros Muñoz Roberto
Published: October 2020

Animación didáctica que trata sobre el ALEA. Atlas lingüístico y etnográfico de Andalucía.
En este vídeo, concretamente, se habla sobre el yeísmo o desfonologización de la oposición o fusión de dos fonemas en uno solo. Entre el fonema palatal lateral sonoro y el palatal central sonoro.
The is curve
Authors: Sánchez-Rivas García Javier , Pablo-Romero Gil-Delgado María del Pópulo , Expósito García Alfonso , Gómez-Calero Valdés Palma , Espinosa Goded María del Pilar
Published: October 2020

Didactic animation that shows in a step-by-step process the IS curve and the combinations of interest rate and income levels in the macroeconomic equilibrium, as well as the necessary graphics to describe it.
Department of Economic Analysis and Political Economy.
Konvergensi Simbolik Dalam Membangun Kohesivitas Kelompok
Authors: Oro Epifanius Putra , Andung Petrus Ana , Liliweri Yohanes K.N.
Published: October 2020

ABSTRAKEpifanius Putra Oro (1603050167)** “Konvergensi Simbolik Dalam Membangun Kohesivitas Kelompok (Analisis Tema Fantasi Ernest Bormann Pada Komunitas Silky Band Kota Kupang)” dibimbing oleh Dr. Petrus A. Andung, S.Sos, M.Si dan Yohanes K.N. Liliweri, S.Sn, M.Sn. Terdiri dari 60 halaman, 27 Buku referensi, 4 Situs Internet.Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan tema-tema fantasi dalam kelompok Silky Band, menganalisis konvergensi simbolik Silky Band dalam membangun kohesivitas kelompok. Teori yang digunakan adalah teori konvergensi simbolik. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian kualitatif dengan metode analisis tema fantasi dan objek dalam penelitiannya adalah anggota kelompok Silky Band. Pemilihan informan menggunakan teknik purposive sampling, teknik pengumpulan data yang digunakan adalah autoetnografi, dokumentasi dan wawancara mendalam. Teknik analisis data yang digunakan adalah empat konsep dalam analisis tema fantasi. Pada hasil penelitian, peneliti menemukan tiga dari empat konsep dalam analisis tema fantasi yakni tema fantasi, rantai fantasi, dan tipe fantasi selain itu kedua simbol antara lain simbol verbal dan simbol non-verbal juga ditemukan dalam penelitian tersebut. Maka hasil pada penelitian ini menunjukan bahwa permainan simbol-simbol dan fantasi-fantasi yang terjadi diantara anggota kelompok Silky Band membetuk kohesivitas di antara mereka. Kata Kunci: Tema fantasi, permainan simbol, teori konvergensi simbolik, anggota kelompok Silky Band.
Estudio de la adsorción de los pesticidas Pendimetalina y Metolaclor sobre materiales carbonosos y silíceos para su eliminación de aguas contaminadas
Authors:   , Colasurdo Diego Damián
Published: October 2020

A lo largo del presente trabajo de tesis se realiza el estudio del proceso de adsorción como alternativa de remediación para aguas contaminadas con pesticidas. Por un lado, se realizó la caracterización de dos carbones activados comerciales (Hydrogen Sulfide CAT-Ox 4 mm pellet y CARBOPAL MB 4s). Las características texturales y de superficie específica de los mismos fueron estudiadas mediante isotermas de adsorción-desorción de nitrógeno. Para el CAT, la curva de adsorción puede ser encuadrada dentro del tipo I con una forma similar a la isoterma de Langmuir, lo que indicaría un proceso en el cual inicialmente se produce el llenado de microporos. Según la clasificación de Giles, la forma del ciclo de histéresis de esta isoterma se condice con una curva tipo H, más específicamente, subtipo 4. Utilizando los datos obtenidos de estos estudios y mediante la utilización de la ecuación de BET se calculó una superficie específica de 1189,426 m2 .g-1. De la distribución del tamaño de poro para este carbón se puede concluir que el mismo presenta un sistema bimodal de micro y mesoporos, centrado entre 3 y 4 nm. En las microfotografías no puede verse una estructura uniforme ni ordenada.
Changing Roman Catholic Christologies
Authors: Aydin Mahmut
Published: October 2020

The person of Jesus Christ does not only play a key role in the Christiandialogue with non-Christians, but it is also the central issue in thecurrent debate on the Christian theology of religions. Within thiscontext, after the 1970's, some individual theologians and thinkers haveattempted to study the status of Jesus by questioning seriously thetraditional Christian beliefs and doctrines that this study criticallyevaluates. A number of works which discuss the uniqueness of JesusChrist and the possibility of reinterpreting traditional doctrines in thelight of new developments and the practical implications of dialoguewith people of other faiths.
The Ambivalence of the Sacred
Authors: Sabet Amr
Published: October 2020

The Ambivalence of the Sacred book attempts to articulate a framework forformulating specific answers, on a case-by-case basis, to three overarchingquestions pertaining to the seemingly ambivalent relationship betweenreligion and violence. First, it seeks to examine conditions under whichreligious actors become violent; secondly, the opposite circumstancesunder which religious actors reject the violence of religious extremistsaccording to the same principles of religious sanctity; and thirdly, thesettings in view of which non-violent religious actors can become agents ofpeacebuilding. The purported goal is to identify and develop means andmethods by which religion may become an instrument of conflict managementand/or resolution instead of being a source of deadly conflicts.Appleby argues that religion can be administered in such a prudent,selective, and deliberate fashion so as to allow it consistently to contributeto a peaceful resolution of conflicts. Additionally, that a new formof conflict transformation --"religious peacebuilding'- is actually takingshape among local communities plagued with violence. In this sense"ambivalence of the sacred projects an awareness that both possibilitiesof life and death reside within the holy.The book is divided into two parts. The first part (chs. 1-5) attempts toelaborate elements of a theory of religion's role in deadly conflict and toaddress the first two overarching questions above. Citing the cases of SouthAfrica and the transformations in Roman Catholic teachings, in response toboth state apartheid violence in the former, and to post-war era pressuresfor pluralism on the latter, chapter 1 examines the paradoxical and ambivalentlogic of the sacred. Chapters 2 and 3 explore the conditions underwhich religious actors legitimate violence as a sacred duty or privilege inlight of the violent forces of ethno-nationalism and religious extremism.Chapter 4 examines the phenomenon of nonviolent religious militancy bylooking at Buddhist peacemaking in Southeast Asia and by introducingtransnational NGO's that work with and among local religious actors. The ...
Eighteenth Annual Conference of the American Council for the Study of Islamic Societies (ACSIS)
Authors: Akram Ejaz
Published: October 2020

The American Cowicil for the study of Islamic Societies (ACSIS) held its18th Annual Conference April 27-28, 2001 at Villanova University,Pennsylvania. ACSIS was established in 1983 to bring together scholarsengaged in the study of Islamic Societies and states around the world fromreligious, cultural, economic and political perspectives. ACSIS also has astrong focus on Pakistan Studies. The program director, Dr. Hafeez Malikmust be congratulated for consistency with which ACSIS continues to meetand produce its publication The Journal of South Asian and Middle EasternStudies.In a small symposium with a total of seven panels and some 20 speakers(except the absentees), panel areas covered ranged from Turkey and theWest to Muslims in Tibet and China, while the subjects were as diverse asforeign policy, media studies and pluralism.The first panel began with the discussion of Turkey's role in the EuropeanUnion (EU). Augusta State University's Michael Bishku's presented"Destination European Union? The Politics and Economics of Turkey'sCase for Admission" The paper put the conference to a good start becausethe following two papers by James Sowerwine and John Vander Lippedealt with topic directly related to Turkey's admission into EuropeanUnion. Respectively, these papers were "The Role of Turkey in EuropeanSecurity" and "Turkish-American Relations".Bishku pointed out at the unevenness and asymmetrical relationship thatcharacterized the Turkey-EU relations. EU's integration itself is notentirely a democratic exercise but a product of European search forenduring security, a quasi-Utopian dream of European integrationideologues and a generation of technocratic elite who want Europe unified.Similarly, the earlier Turkish elite wanted to enter EU for the reasons ofchanging identity, economic or civilizational, whereas the society at thattime was still traditional and felt a deeper bond with the Muslim world thansecular Europe. However, the current Turkish drive for membership in EUcomes surprisingly not from the secular elite but the very Islamic sectors ofsociety; while the elite wants to hold on to the Kemalist power apparatus,the society wants to democratize and join the EU, because by doing so, thestate will no longer be able to pursue its Machiavellian tactics on itscitizens, as it would have to abide by, in substance, to the Human Rights ...
Windows of Faith
Authors: Mir Shabana
Published: October 2020

Windows of Faith provides a space where Muslim women speak forthemselves and challenge rigidly traditionalist voices that have often hadhegemonic status in Islamic jurisprudential works regarding women. It is avolume that represents the voices of some of the most highly regardedMuslim women scholars and activists today. The book appears to cater toa primarily academic audience, and one that is familiar with the tradition ofIslamic feminism.In her introduction, Gisela Webb describes the overall approach ofthe contributors as challenging hegemonic discourse in many circles. Itchallenges: elements within the Muslim and the non-Muslim imaginationthat define Muslim women as mute victims; western feminist patriarchytoward Muslim women; and also the Muslim cultural patriarchy thatappropriates the sources of Islamic law and praxis yet, in the view of(probably all of) these women, has abandoned the essential Divineegalitarian purposes. Windows of Faith is a refreshing read, especiallydue to today’s urgent need to respond to the Qur’anic challenge: Do theynot reflect?In the first part (Qur’anic/rheological Foundations) Amina Wadud’spiece “Alternative Qur’anic Interpretation and the Status of MuslimWomen” explores neo-traditionalist and secular approaches towardalternative interpretation of the Qur’an regarding the status of women. Itis interesting to examine her comment, “Being anti-Western has becomea basis for legitimacy in ‘Islam’ ” against some of Maysam al-Faruqi’scomments in her chapter, which seem to dichotomize “Islamicness” withwesternness in the context of gender relations. In the second chapter“Muslim Women’s Islamic Higher Learning as a Human Right,” NimatBarazangi seeks, through an analysis of qualitative research with Muslimwomen, to develop an “action plan for the Muslim woman” in the postmodemera, “to regain her identification with Islam.” The need of the houris to “reinstate woman as an educational agent, both at home and at themosque one who herself will outline her priorities as a trustee entrustedwith changing history toward social justice.” Will we see womenas weil as men delivering khutaba and instituting policies in mosques ...
Challenges to Democracy in the Middle East
Authors: Bokhari Kamran Asghar
Published: October 2020

Many scholars have attempted to tackle the question of why democracy has seemingly failed to take root in the Islamic milieu, in general, and the pre dominantlyArab Middle East, in particular, while the rest of the world has witnessed the fall of"pax-authoritaria" especially in the wake of the demercratic revolution triggered by the failure of communism. Some view this resistance to the Third Wave, as being rooted in the Islamic cultural dynamics of the region, whereas others will ascribe it to the level of political development (or the lack thereof). An anthology of essays, Challenges to Democracy in the Middle East furnishes the reader with five historical casestudies that seek to explain the arrested socio politico-economic development of Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, and Turkey, and the resulting undemercratic political culture that domjnates the overall political landscape of the Middle East.

The first composition in this omnibus is "The Crisis of Democracy in Twentieth Century Syria and Lebanon," authored by Bill Harris, senior lecturer of political studies at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. Haris compares and contrasts the political development of Syria and Lebanon during the French mandate period and under the various regimes since then. He examines how the two competing forms of national­ism, i.e., Lebanonism and Arabism, along with sectarianism, are the main factors that have contributed to the consolidation of one-party rule in Syria, and the I 6-year internecine conflict in Lebanon. After a brief overview of the early history of both countries, the author spends a great deal oftime dis­cussing the relatively more recent political developments: Syria from 1970 onwards, and Lebanon from I 975 to the I 990s. Harris expresses deep pes­simism regarding the future of democratic politics in both countries, which in his opinion is largely due to the deep sectarian cleavages in both states.

The next treatise is "Re-inventing Nationalism in B􀀥thi Iraq 1968- 1994: SupraTerritorial Identities and What Lies Below," by Amatzia Baram, professor of Middle East History at the University of Haifa. Baram surveys the Ba·th's second stint in power (1968-present) in lraq. Baram's opinion is that a shift has occurred in B􀀥thist ideology from an integrative Pan-Arab program to an Iraqi-centered Arab nationalism. She attributes this to Saddam's romance with the past, on the one hand, which is the reason for the incorporation of themes from both the ancient Mesopotamian civiliza­tion and the medieval Abbasid caliphal era, and, on the other hand, to Islam and tribalism, that inform the pragmatic concerns of the Ba'thist ideological configuration ...
An Inquiry into the Algerian Massacres
Authors: Chak Farhan Mujahid
Published: October 2020

The book under review offers a monumental, exhaustive and judiciousaccount of"who are the agents behind the 'horrendous violence' that has followedthe consolidation of the military over incumbent authorities?" Theanswer provided by the victors, those with the power to institute their choic esand interpretations, is that the paroxysm of "Islamic fundamentalism" isexacting grisly, gratuitous and ghastly violence on a society they have beenunable to conquer. On the contrary, scholars insist the beneficiaries of theresource rich regions of Algeria, largely unscathed in the carnage, are indicativeof the faceless murderers behind the monstrosity. Moreover, the primaryimportance of these resources to foreign states and corporations indicatescomplicity. Amidst this confusing scenario, An lnqui!J' into the AlgerianMassacres provides a clear analysis of the beastly culprits.Major international human rights organizations and outstanding journalistshave not found the "Islamic fundamentalist" argument compellingand continue to raise the same question: "Who is behind these grisly atrocities?"The evidence unearthed strongly suggests that the unseen hands,responsible for the bloodbath, belong to the Algerian army. In addition,striking corroboration has come from defectors and victims which incriminatesthe Algerian military apparatus and such foreign co-conspirators asthe French government. This allegation is firmly supported by the environsof the savagery, taking place in close proximity to military and policeinstallations, yet raging for long periods with no interference.Further disturbing, this charge against the Algerian authorities becomesincreasingly credible against the backdrop of the hideous record of rape, tortureand mutilation perpetrated by Algerian mjlitary authorities, well documentedby independent human rights monitors and reputable reporters.Noam Chomsky, in his insightful foreword to the book, collaborates this ...
The Brunei Constitution of 1959
Authors: Langran Irene
Published: October 2020

For many countries, the twentieth century was characterized by the shift from colonialism to independence. This struggle was contentious and often violent; the resulting governments frequently reflected the tensions between nationalist and colonial influences. In The Brunei Constitution of 1959: An Inside History, B. A. Hussainmiya examines the formation of the framework for the nonviolent and gradual movement toward independence through the negotiations surrounding the 1959 constitution.A historian, Hussainmiya's previous works include his 1995 publication, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III and Britain: The Making of Brunei Darussalam. The Brunei Constitution of 1959 began as a series of articles written for the Borneo Bul letin in 1999. This concise history of the 1959 Constitution is divided into eight chapters. The first two chapters provide background information, while chapters three to seven cover the negotiations between the British colonial government and Brunei's monarchy. In chapter eight, the book ends with the constitution's actual promulgation. Britain's relationship with Brunei began in 1847, when the two coun­tries signed a treaty of peace and friendship. In 1888 Britain established a protectorate over Brunei, which grew to residency rule by 1906. Although the establishment of residency rule in 1906 afforded the British vast and unspecified powers, a role for the Malay monarchy, through the sultan, was preserved and, in some respects, augmented. By designating, at least in the­ory, the sultan as the "absolute sovereign," the British hoped to maintain the perception that Brunei was not a colony. As Hussainmiya notes, the British also increased the sultan's power over local nobles in an effort to increase their own power base ...
The Qur'an's Self-Image
Authors: Afsaruddin Asma
Published: October 2020

This is a well-researched and carefully thought out book on the highly complex issue of the Qur' an 's self-referential terms to its own status as Scripture. Particularly illuminating are the author, Daniel Madigan's, clear and profound engagements with the semantic content of key Qur'anic words like kitab, mushaf, qur'an, dhikr, tanzil. and wahy, and his discussion of the inter-relatedness of these tenns. Madigan successfully problematizes partic­ularly the key terms kitab and Qur'an since, as he shows, their meanings can be fairly fluid and their essence cannot be easily and crudely reduced to a rigid demarcation between orality and "writtenness" alone.

A central focus of his book is indeed the tension between the orality and the written nature of Islam's sacred scripture, already suggested in the name given to it, al-Qur'an, which itself may be translated as ''the Recitation," and "the Reading." Madigan stresses the primacy of the oral nature of the Qur'an; in his (rather brief) discussion of the terms kalam Allah (the speech of God) and kitabAl/ah (the book of God), he states, ... the focus on the ontological status of the Qur'an [as represented in the usage of the term kalam Allah] may be not merely the result of specula­tion but rather an attempt to recover something that was lost when the concepts of kitab Allah and Qur'an were collapsed into the content of the mushaf. 

Chapters 2 - 4 provide a fine and nuanced exposition of the Qur'anic conception of kitab, which, as Madigan persuasively suggests, has to do with divine, timeless authority becoming manifest in the human, time­bound world. The difference between Qur'an and kitab is therefore, not merely a question of display or storage, through the medium of the human voice in the fonner and through written composition in the latter, but has to do rather with the Qur'an's origin, that is, "its author and the source of its composition." ...
Mapping the Direction to Makkah
Authors: Massasati Ahmad S.
Published: October 2020

This paper would normally appear in a journal of cartography. We decided, nonetheless, to publish it in AJISS because it well illustrates the need to incorporate interdisciplinary approaches when addressing questions that fall under the category of the Shari'a. The paper reiterates a point often repeated in AJISS and reminds us of the need to redesign the curriculum of Shari'a schools so as to allow the graduates to have a deeper under­standing of social and natural phenomena.
The "Religious Secularism" of Lebanon and the United States: A Discussion between Lebanon's Secular Debate and Madison's "Principles of Pluralism"
Authors: Grafton David D.
Published: October 2020

Within the current discussions of Jslam and democracy, the issue of secularism has now become one of the most important themes. Throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the main premise put forward by Jslamic scholars in various forms has been that secularism is atheistic and, therefore, incompatible with £slam. This article investigates one Islamic debate on the issue of secularism in order to find the root elements of the Muslim argu­ment. In looking at the 1976-77 secularism debate in Lebanon we argue that, like Lebanon, most Muslim scholars use the French Revolution and its Jacobist views as the standard for understand­ing secularism. Rather, the Lebanese context is better suited to the eighteenth-century American context and its development of a "religious secularism." The conclusion here is that Lebanon would be better off using eighteenth-century American rhetoric in its social political discourse for a vision of its own future, and that Musi im minority communities (primarily in the United States) can recover the issues involved in the American secular debates that saw secularism as "freedom for religion" in multi­communal states rather than the enemy of religion.
Overcoming the Polemics of Intolerance
Authors: Safi Louay M.
Published: October 2020

The September 11 attacks on the United States have had many dire conse­quences. In addition to destroying innocent lives and devastating the lively dreams of the individuals and families caught in the web of death and destruction, the attacks have reinvigorated a few bigoted spirits who found an excellent opportunity to spread their bigotry in the name of fighting intolerance in post-September 11 's murky atmosphere of fear and uncer­tainty. Since that horrific date, a new unholy alliance has been formed among leading members of the Religious Right. Its avowed aim is to vilify Islam and demonize even the most moderate Muslim voices. The most recent, vicious, and mean-spirited attacks to date on .Islam have created a new paradox: Islam, which historically has provided an out­standing model of religious accommodation and tolerance, stands accused of intolerance by intolerant and bigoted people. This paradox deserves extensive attention and study . .In addition, the worldview and mindset behind the mean-spirited attacks on Islam by individuals whose outlooks and spir­its recall those of the Middle Ages must be analyzed deeply and understood thoroughly. ln this editorial, I will argue briefly that the accusation of intol­erance leveled against Islam is unfounded and that Islam is an essential part­ner in any effort to develop a more tolerant and peaceful world. Islam is essential for developing a gentler and more caring world, because it holds in high esteem the most fundamental values that make a tolerant and pluralist society possible: equality, freedom, and justice, as well as interracial and interreligious solidarity. The emphasis that Islam places on these values is manifested in the Qur'an, the Sunnah, and the Companions' exemplary lives; in the Muslim society's historical experi­ence; and in the ethos of contemporary Islamic reform movements ...