Applying Ibn Khaldun The Recovery of a Lost Tradition in Sociology [Paperback]

The writings of Ibn Khaldkn, particularly the Muqaddimah (Prolegomenon)have rightly been regarded as being sociological in nature. For this reason, Ibn Khaldkn has been widely regarded as the founder of sociology, or at least a precursor of modern sociology. While he was given this recognition, however, few works went beyond proclaiming him as a founder or precursor to the systematic application of his theoretical perspective to specific historical and contemporary aspects of Muslim societies in North Africa and the Middle East. The continuing presence of Eurocentrism in the social sciences has not helped in this regard: it often stands in the way of the consideration of non-Western sources of theories and concepts.

This book provides an overview of Ibn Khaldkn and his sociology, discusses reasons for his marginality, and suggests ways to bring Ibn Khaldkn into the mainstream through the systematic application of his theory. It moves beyond works that simply state that Ibn Khaldkn was a founder of sociology or provide descriptive accounts of his works. Instead it systematically applies Khaldkns theoretical perspective to specific historical aspects of Muslim societies in North Africa and the Middle East, successfully integrating concepts and frameworks from Khaldknian sociology into modern social science theories. Applying Ibn Khaldkn will be of interest to students and scholars of sociology and social theory.

Introduction.  1. The Errors of History and the New Science: Introduction to the Muqaddimah  2. Ibn Khaldkns Theory of State Formation  3. Ibn Khaldkn and Modern Sociology: An Aborted Tradition  4. Pre-modern Readings andApplications of Ibn Khaldkn  5. A Khaldknian Theory of Muslim Reform  6. Ibn Khaldkn and the Ottoman Modes of Production  7. The Rise and Fall of the Safavid State in a Khaldknian Framló"