Theory of Government in the Political Idea of Ibn Khaldun

The objective of the present study is to review the theory of government in the political idea of Ibn Khaldun. To this aim and using a hermeneutic approach, the theory of Asabiyyah (social cohesion) as the foundation of Ibn Khaldun’s political doctrine, the emergence of government and its contributing factors, the causes of government’s fall, variety of governments and its best type were discussed in Ibn Khaldun’s theory of government. The method of study was descriptive analysis and the results showed that Ibn Khaldun has been among the first thinkers in the world studying the concept of government and theorizing the origin, definition, way of establishment, types, the ideal form, components, functions, and its fall. Since his theory has the three elements of a scientific theory, that is to say concordance with the objective instances, multi relationships between the concepts in the theory, and the coherence of perception in various circumstances, it can be recognized as one of the first theories of government and has the potential of academic and international publication.