Ibn Khaldun and the wealth of civilizations

Abstract

This chapter seeks to recover Ibn Khaldun's contributions to political economy as an attempt to rebuild bridges between the two worlds that are traditionally separated by time and culture. The task of reconstruction relies on a critical reading of Ibn Khaldun's introduction (the Muqaddimah) to his magnum opus, the Kitab al-'Ibar or 'Book of Lessons,' as well as an engagement with scholarly commentaries sheltering interdisciplinary horizons. Ibn Khaldun sees speculation, verification, interpretation, and deeper knowledge as crucial elements in identifying the true causes of events. This quest inevitably directs inquiry into the rise and decline of civilizations. The chapter offers a synoptic picture of the confluence of the religious and the secular in Ibn Khaldun's reflections on political economy in the The Muqaddimah. It focuses on Ibn Khaldun's philosophy of history and political economy, but especially the ethical considerations that attend wealth creation.