The paper by Yusuf M. Sidani (2008) summarized here presents the works of Ibn Khaldun (1332-1406), one of early contributors to structure theories in Sociology, regarding his conceptualization of leadership and the role of asabiya (group feeling) in leadership phenomena emergence.

1. Ibn Khaldun of North Africa
an AD 1377 theory of leadership
Summarized and Presented by:
Anas Abd Al-moumen
Huda Al Midani
Juliet Naddaf
Majd Suleiman
Moulham Ghassan Mallouk
An MBA course designed by: Rami M Ayoubi, PhD ‎
21 November 2008
MBA – HIBA, Syria
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2. The author:
Yusuf M. Sidani
Olayan School of Business, American University of
Beirut, Ras Beirut, Lebanon
The journal:
Journal of Management History, Vol. 14, No. 1, 2008
The keywords:
Leadership, North Africa, Islam
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3. The paper presents the works of Ibn Khaldun (13321406), one of early contributors to structure theories
in Sociology, regarding his conceptualization of
leadership and the role of asabiya (group feeling) in
leadership phenomena emergence.
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4. The study reviews an earlier work (Muqaddimah of
Ibn Khaldun), investigates and describe concepts
with regard to understanding of an issue
(leadership), and develops models for comparison
and analysis.
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5. As the paper gives a pictorial representation of Ibn
Khaldun’s leadership conceptualization, and a
comparison between modern leadership theory and
Ibn Khaldun’s leadership conceptions.
It draws special attention to the significant role of
group feelings or bonds (Asabiya), that may help in
understanding follower- leader relationship
development in some non- western collective
societies.
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8. Western Perspective
Ibn Khalodon’s Perspective
Cultural Framework
Individualism , command
and control chain.
Collective, blood ties,
Religion, Group feelings
(Asabyia).
Outcomes
High potential
Obedience and
Organizational performance organizational stability.
& effectiveness .

9. 
Administrative and managerial relationships in middle
eastern countries would only be successful if they take
aspects of group feeling and the impact of religion on day to
day life into good consideration.

It is necessary for people from western cultures who
operate in eastern societies to understand these concepts
presented by Ibn Khaldun.

To better implement organizational policies that do not
take the particularities of the region into perspective.
understanding the leadership dynamics in such setting
would defiantly help managers & researchers.
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10. 
By considering carefully the framework in which this
study is undertaken, the purpose, the methodology
and the analysis technique, we couldn’t find any
limitations.

But looking for practical implications outside the
framework , while the study invites modern research
to utilize earlier theories of Ibn Khaldoun and
investigates its potential usefulness in understanding
current societies with different culture, it does not dig
into contextual situations or symptoms in which these
theories can be of practical value, or how various
societies’ historical development can alter such one.
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