Wednesday, July 02, 2025

𝐀𝐈 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐨𝐟 "𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐱'𝐬 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬, 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟏𝟖𝟒𝟑 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟏𝟖𝟒𝟒"

 Nasir Khan’s work on Marx’s theory of alienation presents a meticulous analysis of this critical period in Marx’s early thought. By narrowing the focus to just seventeen months, the study provides a detailed exploration of the evolution of Marx’s ideas on alienation, offering a nuanced understanding of Marx's journey toward articulating a mature theory. Khan’s work situates Marx's discussions on alienation within the broader intellectual movements of the time and evaluates Marx’s dialogue with his contemporaries, like Feuerbach and Hegel. This work stands out for its in-depth textual analysis and the clarity it brings to complex conceptual developments.

Overview
The main contribution of Nasir Khan's study is a precise, historically situated analysis of Marx's concept of alienation spanning March 1843 to August 1844, a crucial period in Marx's intellectual development. The work meticulously traces the evolution of Marx’s thoughts on alienation against the backdrop of his engagement with the philosophical ideas of Feuerbach and Hegel and highlights the continuous thread of alienation throughout Marx's oeuvre. The study further attempts to clarify the distinctions between Marx's early and mature views, emphasizing the foundational role of alienation within Marxian theory.
Relevant References
Including a clear literature review helps reviewers quickly see what's new and why it matters, which can speed up the review and improve acceptance chances. The following references were selected because they relate closely to the topics and ideas in your submission. They may provide helpful context, illustrate similar methods, or point to recent developments that can strengthen how your work is positioned within the existing literature.
Mészarós, István. Marx's Theory of Alienation. 2000, https://ci.nii.ac.jp/ncid/BA18224533.
Yi-xia, Wei. “Alienation Theory and the Essence of the Philosophical Revolution of K.Marx.” Journal of Harbin Techers College, 2001, https://en.cnki.com.cn/Articl.../CJFDTOTAL-HEBS200101004.htm.
Galazova, Svetlana S. Chapter 14 Scientific Projections of K. Marx’s “Concept of Alienation.” 2018, doi:10.1108/s1569-375920180000100015.
Hui-yi, Yuan. “The Logical Evolution of Marx's Theory of Alienation.” Journal of Guangdong Peizheng College, 2010, https://en.cnki.com.cn/Articl.../CJFDTOTAL-GDPZ201002009.htm.
Thompson, Lanny Ace. “The Development of Marx's Concept of Alienation: An Introduction.” Social Thought & Research, University of Kansas, 1979, doi:10.17161/str.1808.6083.
Wandan, Xin. “Limitations of the Theory of Alienation Propounded by Marx in His Youth.” Chinese Studies in Philosophy, Taylor & Francis, 1984, doi:10.2753/csp1097-1467160190.
Chen, Dezhi. “THE EVOLUTION OF MARX ALIENATION THEORY AND SEVERAL PONDERS.” Journal of Chaohu College, Chaohu University, 2007, https://en.cnki.com.cn/Articl.../CJFDTOTAL-CHXY200701003.htm.
Qing-fa, Zeng. “On Marxs Alienation Theory.” Journal of Wuhan Institute of Shipbuilding Technology, Wuhan Vocational and Technical College of Shipbuilding, 2003, http://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTOTAL-WHCB200304013.htm.
Xiao, Jin. “Marx's Theory on Alienation.” Journal of Huanggang Normal Universirt, 2002, http://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTOTAL-HGXB200204000.htm.
Gui, Zhou. “Marx's Theory of Alienation: Unity of Humanity Solicitude Dimension and Science Guidance Dimension.” Journal of Southern Yangtze University, Jiangnan University, 2004, http://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTOTAL-WXQS200403002.htm.
Strengths
Nasir Khan's manuscript exhibits a high level of scholarly rigor, offering a deep dive into the historical and intellectual contexts that shaped Marx's understanding of alienation. The focused timeline allows for a detailed examination of the progression of Marx’s thoughts and provides compelling evidence of the continuity of alienation as a central theme throughout Marx's work. The study is notable for its thorough engagement with primary sources, complemented by an impressive command of the secondary literature, which enhances the reader's comprehension of complex theoretical developments.
Major Comments
Methodology
The methodology employed in the manuscript is largely based on historical and textual analysis, which suits the research aim of tracking the evolution of a philosophical concept. However, it could benefit from a more explicit framework that would help in teasing out the comparative aspects between Marx's early and later writings. A structured methodological explanation would strengthen the work’s overall coherence and would facilitate a clearer understanding for readers.
Clarity and Framing
While the manuscript excels in depth, some sections could be made more accessible. For example, explanations of key philosophical terms and clearer sub-sections within chapters could guide the reader through the dense theoretical material. Providing more context or summaries of discussions in the preface or introduction might also aid non-specialists in following Khan’s arguments more easily.
Minor Comments
Glossary Placement
Introducing a glossary of key terms at the beginning rather than the end might help readers less familiar with Marxian terminology better engage with the text. This change could facilitate a smoother reading experience, particularly for interdisciplinary audiences.
Figures and Diagrams
Considering the abstract nature of many points, inclusion of diagrams to represent the interconnections between different elements of Marx’s theory of alienation could be beneficial. Visual aids could provide readers with a concise overview of Khan’s sophisticated analyses.
Reviewer Commentary
Nasir Khan's work prompts reflection on the relevance of Marx's theory of alienation today, highlighting its enduring significance in understanding human nature and societal structures. The focus on an early period in Marx’s intellectual journey opens fresh avenues for interdisciplinary discourse, particularly in sociology, economics, and political science. Khan's analysis reminds us that foundational philosophical theories continue to provide insightful frameworks for examining current socio-economic paradigms.
Summary Assessment
Overall, Nasir Khan's manuscript offers a thorough and well-researched analysis of Marx’s theory of alienation during a pivotal period of his intellectual life. By tracing the development of Marx’s thoughts with precision and insight, the work contributes meaningfully to Marxist scholarship and invites further exploration of alienation within contemporary contexts. This study stands as a significant scholarly piece that engages both historical and philosophical dimensions, advancing the academic conversation on one of Marx's most critical and still-relevant concepts.
Upon completion of this review, it becomes apparent that Nasir Khan's contributions present a scholarly endeavor that enriches our comprehension of Marx's concept of alienation, prompting continued dialogue and reflection across diverse intellectual traditions.

Tuesday, July 01, 2025

𝐀𝐭 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝟗𝟓 𝐊𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐆𝐚𝐳𝐚 𝐚𝐬 𝐈𝐬𝐫𝐚𝐞𝐥𝐢 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐁𝐨𝐦𝐛 𝐂𝐚𝐟𝐞, 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐭 𝐀𝐢𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬

At least one journalist was killed and another was injured
 
by Dave DeCamp, Antiwar. com, Jun 30, 2025
 
Medical sources told Al Jazeera on Monday that Israeli attacks killed at least 95 Palestinians in Gaza throughout the day as Israeli forces bombed a seaside cafe and gunned down more desperate people who were seeking aid.
According to the Palestinian news agency WAFA, an Israeli airstrike hit the Al-Baqa Cafe in Gaza City, killing 33 people and injuring 50 others. Among the dead was journalist Ismail Abu Hatab, bringing the total number of Palestinian journalists killed since October 7, 2023, to 227, according to WAFA’s count.
Another journalist, Bayan Abu Sultan, was wounded in the attack, and photos and videos of the aftermath show her standing outside the cafe covered in blood. Ali Abu Ateila, a survivor of the airstrike, told The Associated Press that the cafe was struck when it was crowded with women and children.
Journalist Bayan Abu Sultan, after the Israeli airstrike on the Al-Baqa Cafe in western Gaza City on June 30, 2025 (Majdi Fathi via Reuters Connect)
“Without a warning, all of a sudden, a warplane hit the place, shaking it like an earthquake,” Ateila said. The cafe was one of the few businesses that continued to operate in Gaza and was frequently crowded as Palestinians went there to charge their phones and use the internet.
The AP also reported that at least 22 people were killed by Israeli fire while attempting to get aid in different areas of Gaza. The Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis said it received 11 bodies of Palestinians who were killed while returning from an aid site operated by the US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in the area. Another Palestinian was killed near an aid site in Rafah.
Gaza’s Health Ministry said that another 10 people were killed at a UN warehouse in northern Gaza. The latest aid-related killings come after a report from the Israeli newspaper Haaretz revealed that Israeli troops are being ordered to fire on unarmed Palestinians attempting to reach GHF distribution sites to drive them away or disperse them, even though they pose no threat.
Israeli forces also launched heavy attacks on the Zeitoun neighborhood in Gaza City on Monday, with residents reporting that the IDF bombed four schools that were sheltering displaced people, and at least 10 Palestinians were killed in the area. “Explosions never stopped; they bombed schools and homes. It felt like earthquakes,” Salah, a 60-year-old father of five children from Gaza City, told Reuters. “In the news we hear a ceasefire is near, on the ground, we see death and we hear explosions.”

Monday, June 30, 2025

 Unimpeded Mass Murder, Safari Style

The genocidaires of the past gave no food packets; they only killed. Trump and Netanyahu do both at once.

You just may have noticed that a new ingenious modality of mass murder has been in operation in Gaza.

Call it game-hunting, safari style.

Recall how when some royals used to be taken on a tiger shoot, a bait would be tied to a tree so a big cat could be drawn to it for the dignitary’s  convenient aim.

So now, dangerously famished Palestinian children, women, old folk on spindly legs are got the better of by being drawn to the bait where ostensibly benevolent patrons are ready to hand out food packets.

As soon as they rush to the bait, the guns blaze. As most are eliminated, some manage to grab a packet or two, proving to the world  how the scheme remains such a success at both ends – some get to eat, salving the qualms of those upset at being accused of allowing genocide, others swell the ranks of the dead, facilitating the grand project of ethnic cleansing.

When did the world see so clever a two-timing enterprise?

The genocidaires of the past gave no food packets; they only killed. Trump and Netanyahu do both at once. What could be smarter? And how could anyone object, not that anyone is objecting.

You see, the killings in Gaza are game-hunting; in Ukraine it is people who get killed.

Which brings home another sad reality: Curse me if you will, but as a true follower of the Sanatan Dharma, I have been having trouble reconciling Dharma with ethical indifference to the mass murder of a whole innocent population.

Nothing is closer in exclusionary genius to Hindutva than Zionism

I am unable to swallow the trick that my noble nation’s so-noble government played in the United Nations General Assembly.

Where 149 countries voted in favour of demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and the resumption of humanitarian aid operated by the United Nations, Naya Bharat abstained from voting.

Perhaps we were setting up an example of how to eat the cake and have it too: after all, nothing is closer in exclusionary genius to Hindutva than Zionism, and nobody more consequential for ensuring Viksit Bharat than Trump, Musk, the Pentagon, Silicon Valley etc.

So, at one canny stroke of turning our face away from genocide, we accomplished the feat of not annoying either of our pals, not knowing how badly this Trump fellow would behave subsequently.

But these are risks great governments have to take in the larger national interest. After all, as Vishwa Guru, the worst we can do is to take sides.

Then, did we not also abandon our so-close friends in the SCO by abstaining there as well when the organisation to which India belongs issued a statement condemning Israel for attacking Iran?

Nobody may thus accuse us of inconsistency in our extraordinary  foreign policy towards the comity of nations.

Now that I am arguing the case, I say mea culpa  for  not being able to square these cunning decisions with my Sanatana Dharma.

So, give me time and I will follow the leader whose  finesse in these matters I have thus far been too incapable of absorbing.

In the meanwhile, the Mecca/Medina Islamic world more than matches us in their brand of sagacious cynicism towards the game-hunt in Gaza.

Also Read: If Trump Turns Tyrant, Can Others Be Far Behind?

As to the fussy International Criminal Court, their warrant of arrest against the conqueror of Palestine and the elimination of innocents remains a residual pinprick from a queasy but defeated world that no longer exists.

Why these judges and prosecutors in the Hague should be receiving either the world’s attention or their salaries from honest tax-payers is a conundrum that may also be up for resolution should Trump and Netanyahu go from strength to strength, should the grand nations of Europe continue to behave with  customary sophistication, and should rising stars like Narendra Modi  show the way to  moral  fusspots whose understanding of great events and great ideas remains atavistic.

So help us god, and so may  the Palestinian lambs-to-the-slaughter know that they serve a noble and mighty purpose in their canonical sacrifice.

Badri Raina taught at Delhi University.


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Thursday, June 26, 2025

𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐩 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐚𝐡𝐮’𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥

 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑠𝑎𝑖𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑈𝑆 ℎ𝑎𝑠 '𝑠𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑑' 𝐼𝑠𝑟𝑎𝑒𝑙 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑛𝑜𝑤 '𝑠𝑎𝑣𝑒' 𝑁𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑦𝑎ℎ𝑢


by Dave DeCampm Antiwar. com, Jun 26, 2025

In a long post on his Truth Social account on Wednesday night, President Trump called for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial to come to an end in a strong show of support for the Israeli leader, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for his role in war crimes in Gaza.

Netanyahu is on trial for three charges of bribery, theft, and breach of trust. “I was shocked to hear that the State of Israel, which has just had one of its Greatest Moments in History, and is strongly led by Bibi Netanyahu, is continuing its ridiculous Witch Hunt against their Great War Time Prime Minister!” Trump said.

“Bibi and I just went through HELL together, fighting a very tough and brilliant longtime enemy of Israel, Iran, and Bibi could not have been better, sharper, or stronger in his LOVE for the incredible Holy Land,” the president added.
Trump and Netanyahu at the White House on April 7, 2025 (White House photo)

Trump said that he had just learned “that Bibi has been summoned to Court on Monday” and called for the trial to be “CANCELLED, IMMEDIATELY” or for Netanyahu to receive a pardon. “It was the United States of America that saved Israel, and now it is going to be the United States of America that saves Bibi Netanyahu,” he added.

On Thursday, Netanyahu requested that the court delay his testimony and criminal trial by two weeks. His lawyer pointed to Israel’s onslaught in Gaza and its recent war with Iran to justify delaying the trial, saying the Israeli leader must devote “all his time and energy to handling top-priority diplomatic, national, and security issues, including the management of the war in Gaza and dealing with the hostage crisis.”

In a post on X, Netanyahu thanked President Trump for calling for an end to the trial. “Thank You, [President Trump]. I was deeply moved by your heartfelt support for me and your incredible support for Israel and the Jewish people,” he wrote. “I look forward to continue working with you to defeat our common enemies, liberate our hostages and quickly expand the circle of peace.”

Many members of Netanyahu’s government also thanked Trump, while opposition leaders criticized the US president’s intervention in Israel’s affairs. The Trump administration also recently appeared to help Netanyahu resolve a political crisis that threatened his hold on power.

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee met with ultra-orthodox politicians who were threatening to dissolve the government over the lack of a draft exemption for Haredi Jews and told them that the US would see the move as destabilizing and pointed to Iran as a justification to keep the government together. The crisis was ultimately resolved, and less than a week later, the US backed Israel’s attack on Iran.

Netanyahu’s corruption trial and his desire to remain in power are seen as some of his main motivations for continuing the genocidal war in Gaza and waging other wars in the region.

Sunday, June 22, 2025

𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐠𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐈𝐫𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

--Nasir Khan,

BBC News, 'Sir Keir Starmer has warned of a "risk of escalation" to the Middle East and beyond the region, as he calls for a return to the negotiating table after the US bombed Iranian nuclear sites overnight.'

Mr Starmer, open your eyes, if you can! Your Zionist friends in Tel Aviv attacked and carried out the most brazen aggression against Iran. Mr Trump has aided the criminal regime in Tel Aviv and attacked Iran. You should be telling your accomplices to stop the aggression against Iran and turn to peaceful resolution of whatever conflicts there might be. Iran is under attack. Iran has not turned away from negotiations. Under the cover of negotiations, Mr Trump has allowed and aided the attack on ran by Israel.
Now Mr Trump has used the military power of the mightiest war machine in the world to attack and destroy the nuclear sites in Iran. These sites were not used to produce any nuclear weapons, this was fully corroborated by the US intelligence services, as we all know. Don't put imperial lies as the commandments of truth and respect for international law!

Saturday, June 21, 2025

ℙ𝕒𝕣𝕟𝕚𝕒 𝔸𝕓𝕓𝕒𝕤𝕚 (𝟚𝟘𝟘𝟚-𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟝)

Pamenar Press

Translated by Ghazal Mosadeq

A poem by a young Iranian poet Parnia Abbasi who, along with her family, all civilians, was killed in a brutal and unlawful Israeli attack in the Sattarkhan neighbourhood of Tehran.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫

I wept for the both

for you

and for me

you blow at

the stars, my tears

in your world

the freedom of light

in mine

The chase of shadows

you and I will come to an end

somewhere

the most beautiful poem in the world

falls quiet

you begin

somewhere

to cry the

murmur of life

but I will end

I burn

I’ll be that extinguished star

In your sky

like smoke


ستاره‌ی خاموش

برای هر دو گریستم
برای تو
و خودم
ستاره‌های اشکم را
در آسمانت فوت می‌کنی
در دنیای تو
رهایی نور
در دنیای من
بازی سایه‌ها
در جایی
من و تو تمام می‌شویم
زیباترین شعر جهان
لال می‌شود
در جایی
تو شروع می‌شوی
نجوای زندگی را
فریاد می‌کنی
در هزار جا
من به پایان می‌رسم
می‌سوزم
می‌شوم ستاره‌ای خاموش
که در آسمانت
دود می‌شود.



Vaz-e Donya Poetry Journal (Iran) publishes:Excerpts from an interview with poet Parnia Abbasi (2002-2025), featured in the roundtable on poets of the Gen Z:

"I look at everything in my life in a way that allows me to write about it."
-
Parnia Abbasi: Whenever I write something, I always show it to my mother, to my friends. I ask those around me what they think. I love seeing how people react when they read my poems, their facial expressions, their response, it’s fascinating to me. Honestly, this has become a huge part of my life. I look at everything that happens to me as something I might be able to write down, to express the feeling I had in that moment through poetry. In that sense, writing brings me peace. Even if it is just a little every night. Many of these poems I never submit or publish anywhere, but when I read them myself, it feels like those feelings are alive again inside me, and that’s deeply meaningful to me.

When I joined the poetry workshop, I was busy with work and university at the same time, but honestly, the workshop mattered far more to me than school or anything else. I would get excited beforehand, preparing something to say. Getting to know poets, seeking them out—that meant more to me than most other things in life. And it still does.

Thursday, June 19, 2025

President Trump Told Netanyahu To ‘Keep Going’ in Iran

 Trump said Netanyahu is a 'good man' who has been treated 'unfairly'

by , Antiwar.com  | Jun 18, 2025

President Trump said on Wednesday that he told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a phone call a day earlier to “keep going” with his attacks on Iran.

The president told reporters that Netanyahu, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for his role in war crimes in Gaza, is a “good man” who has been treated “very unfairly” by his own country. “He’s a wartime president. Going through this nonsense — ridiculous,” Trump said.

Trump’s comments about Netanyahu come amid anticipation over whether or not the US will enter Israel’s war with Iran directly by launching airstrikes. The US has supported the assault by providing weapons and intelligence and intercepting Iranian missiles and drones, but so far hasn’t launched direct strikes of its own.

Trump and Netanyahu at the White House on April 7, 2025 (White House photo)

The president also said on Wednesday that “nobody knows” whether he’ll enter the war or not. When asked if he was moving closer on a decision to bomb Iranian nuclear facilities, Trump said, “You don’t know that I’m going to even do it. You don’t know. I may do it. I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I’m going to do. I can tell you this, that Iran’s got a lot of trouble.”

In other comments to the press, Trump said he wasn’t interested in an Israel-Iran ceasefire. “We’re not looking for a ceasefire. We’re looking for a total and complete victory. Again, you know what the victory is: no nuclear weapon,” he said.

Netanyahu launched his war of aggression against Iran under the pretext of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, but US intelligence assessed before the attacks that Tehran was not pursuing a nuclear bomb.