The U.S. Role and Policy in Central Asia: Energy and Beyond

A significant geopolitical consequence of the demise of the Soviet Union1 in the international arena is the rise of intense political and commercial competition for control of the vast energy resources of the newly independent and vulnerable states of the Caucasus and Central Asia. These energy resources and, in particular, the oil and natural gas deposits have now become the apple of discord in Central Asia introducing a new chapter in the Great Game of control over Eurasia (Hill 1997: 200). The region has great energy potential and is strategically important. The United States has varied and at times competing interests in Central Asia. In the past few years, real and present dangers to the U.S. national security especially Islamist terrorism and threats to the energy supply, have affected the U.S. policy in Central Asia. The region, which includes the five post-Soviet states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as Afghanistan and the Caspian basin, plays an important part in the U.S. global strategy in view of its proximity to Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Iran, and other key regional actors. No less important are its ethno-religious composition and vast deposits of oil, gas, coal, and uranium. Literally, the U.S. interests in Central Asia can be summarized in three simple words: security, energy, and democracy. Moreover, a key U.S. national security concern is the diversification of energy sources and the Caspian region is a significant alternative source of fossil fuels. In this article a critical analysis will be attempted on the U.S. policy and role in central Asia. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/afj.v4i0.12931 The Arts Faculty Journal Vol.4 July 2010-June 2011 pp.33-51

Leibniz on Necessary and Contingent Truths

The distinction between necessary and contingent truths has so much important role in the explication of Leibniz’s philosophy of logic, metaphysics, and philosophy of science that the distinction spreads throughout most of his philosophical writings. My aim in this paper is to try to provide a clear and detailed account of some of the aspects of Leibniz’s distinction between necessary and contingent truths. This paper is divided into four parts. In the first part, an analysis of Leibniz’s general notion of “truth” (“the Principle of the Predicate-in-Notion”) is given. This will be followed by his distinction between necessary truths and contingent truths, which he also terms as “truths of reason” and “truths of fact” respectively. Thirdly, the implication of this distinction in Leibniz’s theory of human freedom will be addressed. I will end my discussion with an answer to the following questions: The distinction goes traditionally under Leibniz' name; but is it his own invention, or has he merely picked it up from one of his predecessors? And secondly, how far this distinction has an impact (if any) on the philosophies of his contemporaries, especially on Wolff, Hume and Kant? DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/afj.v4i0.12936 The Arts Faculty Journal Vol.4 July 2010-June 2011 pp.117-135

Islamic View of Women Leadership as Head of the State: A Critical Analysis

Since the beginning of the industrial revolution in the West, women have been given certain social, political and economic rights after decades of struggle which Islam had confirmed unequivocally fourteen hundred years ago. Islam has clarified the legal rights and obligations of both men and women in such a balanced way that women cannot complain about their weakness or inferiority and men cannot claim their superiority over women. But this position of women has been the subject to repeated controversy because of the misinterpretations of issues regarding women in our society. This paper deals with a very crucial point, women as head of the state in a Muslim/Islamic state in the light of the Holy Quran and the traditions of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). An attempt has been made to find out the real position of women vis-à-vis the concept of leadership in Islam as objectively as possible to reach a balanced view. Before initiating the discussion on the main topic, that is, the leadership by women, we will give a brief description of women’s position in society and their participation in public life. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/afj.v4i0.12941 The Arts Faculty Journal Vol.4 July 2010-June 2011 pp.195-205

Position of Women in Buddhism: Spiritual and Cultural Activities

The Buddha is a great benefactor of humanity. After the attainment of the Enlightenment in Bodhgaya and preaching First Sermon in Sarnath, the Buddha founded the order of Monks (Bhikkhusangha). This order of Monks increased and within forty five years of Buddha’s ministry it had spread throughout ancient India. But groundless belief of Brahmins is that woman is inferior to man. The position which the woman lost under the dominance of the Brahmins of the day evidently showed little sympathy for her. In this article I will explore the position of women considering their spiritual and cultural activities.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/afj.v4i0.12933 The Arts Faculty Journal Vol.4 July 2010-June 2011 pp.75-84

Distributed Leadership in Secondary Schools: Possibilities and Impediments in Bangladesh

Effective school leadership is a basic tenet for successful school since the outcome of a school depends on the quality of leadership. As a current popular form of leadership, distributed leadership focuses on the leadership of all team members in a school. Research shows that successful leadership depends on the context and time of a school. This paper tries to conceptualize distributed leadership in Bangladesh context during the time of their education restructuring. Though distributed leadership is seldom discussed and operated in developing countries, it advocates the implementation in those contexts due to the continuous success of it in the developed world. Hence, this conceptual paper discusses the possibilities and the potential problems in relation to implement this leadership form for the reforming education sector of Bangladesh. Prior to this, the theoretical background of distributed leadership has been considered in this article. To develop and deliver distributed leadership in Bangladesh, this paper suggests for initiating training programme for head teachers which should focus on long term positive change in education. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/afj.v4i0.12930 The Arts Faculty Journal Vol.4 July 2010-June 2011 pp.19-32

The Quest for Teachers of the ‘Right Stamp’ as Prerequisite to Progress of Female Education in Eastern Bengal: The Partition Interlude

When the nineteenth century came to its glorious end, in Bengal, the storm surrounding the question of women’s education had settled in favor of progress. Conditions for the spread of female education, however, were still precarious, to say the very least. The three chief deterrents to the spread of female education, as recorded in official documents, were: (a) the custom of early marriage, after which girls dropped out of school and more often than not lapsed into ignorance; (b) the system of purdah, the social custom which prevented grown up girls from venturing out of the house to attend school; and, (c) the lack of female teachers (Report on Public Instruction, 1899-1900).DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/afj.v4i0.12932 The Arts Faculty Journal Vol.4 July 2010-June 2011 pp.53-74

Designing Integrated Information Systems for Health, Nutrition and Population Sector Programs in Bangladesh: A Model Plan

A workable information system is one of the essential programmatic needs for the Health, Nutrition and Population (HNP) sector programs in Bangladesh. At present, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is maintaining hierarchical reporting system called Management Information System (MIS) for assessing, evaluating and monitoring its health, nutrition and population sector programs. It has undergone several changes and modifications over the last three decades since its inception in 1975. In response to the needs for evidence-based decision making and enabling the system to deliver timely reliable information to the planners, managers and professionals, government has taken significant initiatives for improvement of information systems at all levels of the sector. However, due to the bifurcated structure in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), adequate and timely monitoring of sector performance is not yet a reality and the culture of using information for decision-making has not yet taken roots. Duplication of services, delay in placing manpower, equipment etc. still reduce the possibility to make facilities fully functional. Insufficient coordination between various sub-sectors in health, population and nutrition resulted in duplication, wastage and missed opportunities both at the top as well as at the operational level. Though MOHFW has been in the process of developing a routine data system, the MIS has been severely criticized for its narrow coverage, faulty output, under utilization of data, etc. Similarly, no initiative has been taken to develop proper library and information systems let alone the integration of library system and MIS. Considering the socio-economic, technical, infrastructural, policy and administrative issues of the country, the design of an integrated information system is the main focus of the study. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/afj.v4i0.12939 The Arts Faculty Journal Vol.4 July 2010-June 2011 pp.171-184

Nature of Evil in Macbeth

“It is a statement of evil” (Knight 18). “The Whole play may be writ down as a wrestling of destruction with creation” (Knight 140). “It contains the decisive orientation of Shakespearean good and evil” (Traversi 86). The above statements serve to prove that Macbeth is Shakespeare’s most profound and mature vision of evil. In this play, Shakespeare presents the overspreading influence of evil over the guilty and ambitious minds which lead them to commit the most treacherous villainy that affect not only the man and the state, but the family and the physical universe as well. But this evil is not the one that finally triumphs, Shakespeare in this play also provides the essential morality and courage which in their progression defeat the evil and restore the natural order of things. This paper endeavors to present the various viewpoints from which this evil can be interpreted. It shows how Shakespeare has depicted the transformation of a good person to a ghastly figure. The effect of evil in Lady Macbeth is also analyzed. The paper also tries to examine whether this evil is purely psychological or has an exterior form. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/afj.v4i0.12940 The Arts Faculty Journal Vol.4 July 2010-June 2011 pp.185-194

Patriarchy and Women’s Subordination: A Theoretical Analysis

Patriarchy is the prime obstacle to women’s advancement and development. Despite differences in levels of domination the broad principles remain the same, i.e. men are in control. The nature of this control may differ. So it is necessary to understand the system, which keeps women dominated and subordinate, and to unravel its workings in order to work for women’s development in a systematic way. In the modern world where women go ahead by their merit, patriarchy there creates obstacles for women to go forward in society. Because patriarchal institutions and social relations are responsible for the inferior or secondary status of women. Patriarchal society gives absolute priority to men and to some extent limits women’s human rights also. Patriarchy refers to the male domination both in public and private spheres. In this way, feminists use the term ‘patriarchy’ to describe the power relationship between men and women as well as to find out the root cause of women’s subordination. This article, hence, is an attempt to analyse the concept of patriarchy and women’s subordination in a theoretical perspective.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/afj.v4i0.12929 The Arts Faculty Journal Vol.4 July 2010-June 2011 pp.1-18

Technology and the Language Teacher

Today is the world of Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Google, Yahoo, I-pods, I- pads. Gadgets reign supreme even in a developing country like Bangladesh (e.g. cell phones) and so technology is fused in every part of our lives, in fact, “technology is no longer a tool to create an alternative environment- it is THE environment” (Gupta, 2010: 68). Academic institutions are, therefore, expected to prepare students for a technological era that awaits them. As an inevitable consequence, there is an expectation from administrators and students alike that a teacher will use technology to sophisticate teaching. As language teaching professionals our life is also intertwined with technology: for administrative purposes, materials development and storage, grading, professional communication, photocopies, scanning and so on. Technology, whether for the classroom or for official purpose, has to be implemented for its pedagogical value and relevance-not just to jump into the bandwagon. This article is a brief overview of technologies and tools considered necessary for the language teacher of today especially in the context of Bangladesh. It also tries to summarize dominant emerging trends in the field of technology enhanced language learning. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/afj.v4i0.12942 The Arts Faculty Journal Vol.4 July 2010-June 2011 pp.206-223