While many studies on Ibn Khaldun focused on Asabiyyah and the role of kinship and tribal bonds in establishing dynasties, little attention has been given to his views on the role of accumulating wealth and conspicuous consumption in corrupting the foundations of authority. Ibn Khaldun assumed that over the course of time, the exercise of power takes on greater structural forms and the corrosion of Asabiyyah can thus be observed. New generations are less willing to sacrifice their welfare for a later gratification as the founding generation was, and this leads to loss of moral values. Furthermore, this phenomenon results in the decline of the external role of armed forces and their increasing involvement in domestic politics. This complexity of interrelated variables in explaining the relation between the economic, the political, and moral in the rise and fall of dynasties can be compared to the historical development of capitalism beyond protestant ethics, at a time of rising consumerism and widespread globalization. This symposium aims to apply Ibn Khaldun’s ideas to understand contemporary relationships between economic progress and morality. Is it possible to establish an economic development model that secures morality, sustainability, and justice? Do societies face the perpetual dilemma of choosing between economic development, on one hand, and social justice and moral values on the other? How can one approach to the unprecedented growth of global markets from Ibn Khaldun’s perspective? Conversely, may an economic model, which does not acknowledge dominant indicators of progress and growth, necessarily guarantee higher level of morality or less corruption? These are amongst some of the intriguing questions deserving of further research. Many of these insights may serve as a starting point for further reflection on economics and morality, growth and ethics, markets and social integrity, and on corrosion. The aim of this symposium is not merely to provide the opportunity for an in-depth study of Ibn Khaldun’s works, but rather to apply his conceptual frameworks as analytical tools. The overarching aim of this symposium is to prompt debate and discussions on the potential application of Ibn Khaldun’s ideas in better understanding contemporary socio-political and economic conditions and crisis. We seek theoretical, empirical, and comparative papers from a wide range of academic disciplines. Co-authored papers are especially welcome. The symposium aims to explore the following themes from Ibn Khaldun’s perspective:
| Last day for Abstract Submission | 30 November 2018 |
| Announcement of Accepted Submissions | 15 December 2018 |
| Submission of Full Texts (approx. 5.000 words) | 1 March 2019 |
| Announcement of Full-Text Submissions | 15 March 2019 |
| Final Program | 1 April 2019 |
