Front Matter for: Applying Ibn Khaldun: The Recovery of a Lost Tradition in Sociology

Abstract

The writings of lbn Khaldirn, particularly the Muqaddimah (Prolegomenon), have rightly been regarded as being sociological in nature. For this reason, Ibn Khaldun 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 Khaldiin and his sociology, discusses reasons for his marginality, and suggests ways to bring Ibn Khaldtln into the mainstream through the systematic application of his theory. It moves beyond works that simply state that Ibn Khaldun was a founder of sociology or provide descriptive accounts of his works. Instead it systematically applies lbn Khaldiin's theoretical perspective to specific historical aspects of Muslim societies in North Africa and the Middle East, successfully integrating concepts and frameworks from Khaldunian sociology into modem social science theories. Applying Ibn Khaldiin will be of interest to students and scholars of sociology and social theory.