Machiavelli Ibnu Khaldun

Machiavelli and Ibnu Khaldun thought on leadership
Machiavelli as has been mention in introduction , he focuses on how to be a leader in
his famous book “ The Prince”. He describe on how to be a capable prince or leader to
ruled the states. He included few basis regarding the leadership. Unlike Machiavelli,
Ibnu Khaldun from muslim scholars emphasize few basis about a leadership,
even thought, Ibnu Khaldun is a historian, but he also included the basis of leadership in
his book “ Al-Muqaddimah”.
The first thought on leadership is the characteristic in stable the state. Different
scholars have different view regarding the characteristic or quality that need to be a
leader. For Machiavelli ,the characteristic of princedom that mention by Machiavelli is
hereditary.After several years experience serving the few kingdoms, he believes that
hereditary leaders is a qualified leaders to rules the state. This stated in the prince
chapter 2, hereditary of the princedom. According to Machiavelli, its easier to maintain
the states with the hereditary because the sovereignty from the ancestors. Therefore,
the stable princedom is the prince that have hereditary. Unlike Machiavelli, Ibnu
Khaldun describe the quality leaders is based on the on the noble values such as
generousity, tolerance and etc. After a leader uphold this values , they will win a
groupthat shared a same feelings and values , so the leaders will have a joyful in the
authority of the rules the state.
______________________________________________________________________
1) The Prince , Machiavelli, chapter 2 : Hereditary princedoms.

2) http://www.muslimphilosophy.com/ik/Muqaddimah/Chapter3/Ch_3_01.htm
3) Al-Muqaddimah page 292
In the first criteria, we can evaluate that Machiavelli and Ibnu Khaldun have
different regarding the quality or characteristic of successful leader. Therefore ,
for Machiavelli the priority is the hereditary , which is the stable state is the
through the legacy is receive from the ancestors.
Secondly , Machiavelli raise up the issue of civil princedom. Civil Princedom is
the rulers or leader that came from the civil society and avoid himself from
criminal activities can be a leader. According to the Machiavelli , this kind of
;leader, that be a leader from appointed by the people is difficulties to maintained
the position rather than the leaders that receive a leadership through the
hereditary. The issue is , the leader who in the throne have difficulties to maintain
his position , even thought he receive a majority or popular vote from the
subject, but there are tendency for the leader to be overthrow from the position.
This is because not all among his subject like him very much and this group of
people can raise and remove him from the office. The leader in this situation , he
must fulfill minority group prosperity and also majority . Therefore, the leaders
doesn’t have absolute power to rules. In this sense , hereditary leaders has
absolute power to rules . This is due to the rulers or leaders has educated the
subject to obey and accept the sovereignty of the leaders but never neglect the
prosperity of the people.

________________________________________________________________
1) The Prince, Nicolas Machiavelli , Chapter 9
2) Notes about Machiavelli by Dr Fuzi Omar, IIUM
Unlike Machiavelli, Ibnu Khaldun have different view regarding the leader
from hereditary leaders. For Ibnu Khaldun he sees that group feeling plays
the role determine the absolute power of the leaders, nor of hereditary or
majority votes. For him, the group of feelings or royal family influence the
leaders that will be choose to rules the state. This is because they have much
power in the region, they also have strengthen the dynasty with a values, so
the leaders will rules according to the people will. The leaders is strength
in the state is not because of the hereditary or people vote, but the group
feelings that shared the same values with the leaders and the people.
Therefore , the people is submitting to obey the rulers which they shared the
values with the rulers.
The two points under the thought of two scholars in term of leadership is the
view on how the leaders should be a leaders and maintain their position. The
characters that raised by Ibnu Khaldun and Machiavelli is same but differ from
the concept of hereditary and group of feelings. The other point is about
which has absolute or comfortable position in ruling the state. Machiavelli
stress on hereditary and less support the people options. While, Ibnu Khaldun
believe the group of feelings that shared the same values with the people will
submit to the rulers that also shared the same values.

______________________________________________________________
1)The Al-Muqaddimah, Abdul Rahman Bin Muhammad Ibnu Khaldun, chapter 3,
page 1, translated by Franz Roselthen
Importance Of Leadership in worldview by Machiavelli and Ibnu Khaldun
As cited in the writings of Robert Rees, 1999, Machiavelli the prince. He
said that , according to Machiavelli, central political leadership is more
important than the religion and moral behavior . Machiavelli said that as cited
from Robert Rees, 1999, this is due of political changes in the Italy that called
Italian Renaissance . The book itself as titles “ The Prince” shows the
importance of leaders, the criteria to be a leaders and how to sustain the
powers. Machiavelli is a political philosophers and he also served few monirs
government and become political advisors for Borgia family. From his
backgrounds, he has involve in leadership conceptual for a many years. He
view on the leadership is beyond the religion itself. Therefore, Machiavelli put
the importance view in leadership.
Unlike Machiavelli, Ibnu Khaldun emphasize the importance of leadership
since the beginning of the civilization. In His book Al-muqaddimah, the first
chapter of Al-Muqaddimah discuss about the social organization which is
human by nature is in politics and have power . In the community they do
have a leaders that will enhance to community to the civilization. Therefore,
Ibnu Khaldun emphasize the role to be a leaders before establishing the
civilization.
______________________________________________________________
1) Al-Muqaddimah, First prefatory discussion , Chapter 1, Ibnu Khaldun
2) The Prince, Nicolas Machiavelli.
Examples of Leadership Scenario during Ibnu Khaldun and Machiavelli
Machiavelli in his book the prince give few examples that he experience it
and include it in his writings, for example, in chapter three, concerning the
mixed princedoms. In this chapter, Machiavelli emphasized the issue of
mixed princedoms which is mixed governments or leadership. For ,
Machiavelli, in order to have a mixed leadership, the leaders must have it
through the previous rulers to better the conditions. The rulers must have a
good perception in everyone mind, or there will have a difficulties or rebellion.
For example, He issued the issue of French rulers which is King Louis the
twelve who occupied Milan, but suddenly lost it in quickly.This is because he
is not been accepted by the people, even thought they tried to get twice. The
story of King Louis it shows how the leaders must be accepted by the people ,
although it will lost the state.
Unlike Machiavelli, Ibnu Khaldun have a different scenario with the leadership. Ibnu
Khaldun clarified the issue of leadership when he was in Tunisia during Sultan Abu
Ishaq, in Morocco, he founds the weakess and the strength of the leadership. After that
he travelled few countries and also served to the few Amirs and Sultans. During his
travelled and learning about civilization and politics. He finally compiled his knowledge
in Al-Muqaddimah .Even thougt , Al-Muqqadimah is the book of history, but Ibnu
Khaldun said few abaout leadership , for example in Chapter one and two in Al-
Muqaddimah on how to be a good leaders. Finally, he presented his works to Amir of
Constantine which is Sultan Abdul Abbas. Therefore, the situation with the rulers
inspired Ibnu Khaldun to write about leadership.
______________________________________________________________________
1) The Prince, Machiavelli, Chapter 3: the mixture princedom….2) Ibnu Khaldun, muslim heritage
2)

Machiavelli Ibnu Khaldun

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Machiavelli and Ibnu Khaldun thought on leadership

Machiavelli as has been mention in introduction , he focuses on how to be a leader in

his book “ Al-Muqaddimah”.

leader. For Machiavelli ,the characteristic of princedom that mention by Machiavelli is

chapter 2, hereditary of the princedom. According to Machiavelli, its easier to maintain

authority of the rules the state.

1) The Prince , Machiavelli, chapter 2 : Hereditary princedoms.

different regarding the quality or characteristic of successful leader. Therefore ,

through the legacy is receive from the ancestors.

Secondly , Machiavelli raise up the issue of civil princedom. Civil Princedom is

criminal activities can be a leader. According to the Machiavelli , this kind of

;leader, that be a leader from appointed by the people is difficulties to maintained

prosperity of the people.

values with the rulers.

which has absolute or comfortable position in ruling the state. Machiavelli

submit to the rulers that also shared the same values.

As cited in the writings of Robert Rees, 1999, Machiavelli the prince. He

said that , according to Machiavelli, central political leadership is more

importance of leaders, the criteria to be a leaders and how to sustain the

powers. Machiavelli is a political philosophers and he also served few monirs

backgrounds, he has involve in leadership conceptual for a many years. He

the importance view in leadership.

Unlike Machiavelli, Ibnu Khaldun emphasize the importance of leadership

chapter of Al-Muqaddimah discuss about the social organization which is

human by nature is in politics and have power . In the community they do

have a leaders that will enhance to community to the civilization. Therefore,

Ibnu Khaldun emphasize the role to be a leaders before establishing the

mixed princedoms. In this chapter, Machiavelli emphasized the issue of

mixed princedoms which is mixed governments or leadership. For ,

Machiavelli, in order to have a mixed leadership, the leaders must have it

good perception in everyone mind, or there will have a difficulties or rebellion.

twelve who occupied Milan, but suddenly lost it in quickly.This is because he

although it will lost the state.

in Al-Muqaddimah .Even thougt , Al-Muqqadimah is the book of history, but Ibnu

Muqaddimah on how to be a good leaders. Finally, he presented his works to Amir of

inspired Ibnu Khaldun to write about leadership.

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