The Khaldunian concept of ‘Umran/Ijtimaa in light of the current paradigm of post-modern society

The principal assumption of this paper is that the Khaldunian text functions as a mirror in which the reader can see his/her self. A multitude of readings vary according to the historical periods and ideological interests of the historical actors. It is thus a question of trying to identify the various authors and to articulate the presuppositions that directed their reading of the Khaldunian text. What we discover is that Ibn Khaldun is like a kaleidoscope or a broken mirror reflecting an astonishing ambiguity and ambivalence. The aim of the study is to show how Ibn Khaldun can function simultaneously according to modern logic founded on rationality, according to traditional logic founded on the rule of the religion and, finally, according to a post-modern logic combining reason and religion.