Chapter 4 describes the idea of the emergence of capitalism and sedentary culture within the territory of the Arabs and Berbers, which comes across as contradictory to the author’s idea of “group feeling.” Whereas the latter concept stands for solidarity and cohesion within the community, the development of agriculture and social stratification serves as a major drawback in terms of mutual sympathy. A prime example of this limitation describes the behavioral patterns of the wealthy social groups once they obtain property and power over their co-residents. Thus, Khaldûn claims that a landowner has to acquire “a protective force to defend him, as well as a rank on which he may rely” (426). Such a statement covertly implies the emergence of co-affectation between the upper social layers. Thus, the idea of “group feeling” emergence within various social groups reflects modern cohesion problems across the Middle East.
References
Khaldûn, Ibn. The Muqaddimah: An Introduction to History. The Classic Islamic History of The World. Translated by Franz Rosenthal, Princeton UP, 2020.