KRITILEKTWAL

1. Appointments of chiefs of local governments (Are the local government heads elected or appointed by a central authority?) 2. Reporting lines of local government (Where is the local government accountable?) 3. Legislative powers of local government (Are the local governments capable of making their own laws or are they just implementing laws crafted by the central government?) 4. Sources of budget and revenues in local governments (Can the local government generate its own budget or is it dependent for revenue allocations by a central authority?) 5. Civic participation in local government (Can the local government entertain and decide with its constituents?) Reference: Huang, Xiaoming. 2009. Politics in Pacific Asia. NY: Palgrave Macmillan.

This video is a very student-friendly introduction to Marx’s concepts of labor, labor theory of value, and surplus value. While Marx’s economic views are controversial, any critique of society and social relations necessitates a review of his contribution to philosophy. HUMSS students will definitely benefit from this episode.

The Oxford Handbook of Political Science situates the state of the art of the discipline. At the time of posting, individual chapters, except Goodin’s introduction, are free for download.

Prudence, justice, beneficence, and self-command are the core principles suggested by Adam Smith in his The Theory of Moral Sentiments. For those studying economics, values, and interests, Smith’s works (especially his famous The Wealth of Nations) are a must read.

Teaching and learning resources for Marx’s Capital from David Harvey.

This is a transcription of interview with David Harvey about the case for the importance of Marx’s Capital. Although attacked by many camps, theoretical analysis offered by Marxist scholarship still provides meaningful critique of prevailing political and economic system.

“If we start transforming ourselves into something superior, what rights will these enhanced creatures claim, and what rights will they possess when compared to those left behind? If some move ahead, can anyone afford not to follow? These questions are troubling enough within rich, developed societies. Add in the implications for citizens of the world’s poorest countries — for whom biotechnology’s marvels likely will be out of reach — and the threat to the idea of equality becomes even more menacing.” Additional reading on transhumanism and innovations to human life: 1. “Homo Deus” by Yuval Harrari 2. “Can We Live Forever?” by Bryan S. Turner

On Einstein’s general theory of relativity, gravitational waves, and LIGO

Recognizing “power” is the first step toward freedom from it. But, can we really be free from “power”? Foucault’s work and scholarship focused on power through philosophical reading of history.

Capitalism and socialism

Reading techniques for different purposes. 1. Skimming 2. Scanning 3. Detailed reading 4. Revision reading Students should also be aware of the things that should practiced before, during, and after reading. During this quarantine, reading is the most important skill that we need to master. Click the link for more details.

Visit The Book Buffet on Shopee.

Looking for academic books and good novels? Visit The Book Buffet on Shopee for prices and other details. Thanks, Readers!

Hi Readers, visit The Book Buffet on Shopee for prices and other details. :)

Visit The Book Buffet on Shopee for affordable prices and other details, Readers!

How do different Christian leaders make sense of illegal drugs, drug users, and Duterte’s War on Drugs in the Philippines? Read our argument on this newly published article in Politics, Religion & Ideology.

I hope you find my discussion relevant. Again, these are all just based on my personal experience. Timing is also crucial. I do not believe that there can only be particular schedule for reviews and intellectual activities. Every season is an opportunity to learn.