A comperative analaysis of Ibn Khaldun's and Niccolo Machiavelli's realist and rationalistic approaches to politics

In Western political thought, Machiavelli, and in Eastern discourse, Ibn Khaldun, emerge as pivotal figures. Despite their diverse geographical, cultural, and historical backgrounds, both advocated for a similar realistic and rationalist approach. This thesis aims to meticulously examine and compare the revolutionary methodologies employed by Machiavelli and Ibn Khaldun within the realm of political theory. Significantly, both philosophers diverged from their predecessors and contemporaries by opting to analyze societal events through a pragmatic and historically grounded perspective rather than through idealized or normative lenses. This analytical framework not only fortified the foundations of their political doctrines but also left profound imprints on the trajectory of modern political thought. This study deeply delves into the realistic and rationalist methodologies embraced by Machiavelli and Ibn Khaldun. While both engage in a realist analysis of politics, differences arise due to their unique cultural and historical contexts. For instance, Machiavelli's experiences during the Italian Renaissance shaped his pragmatic and realistic outlook, whereas Ibn Khaldun's upbringing in the politically complex Islamic world influenced his realism within that milieu. Moreover, this research examines the fundamental reasons behind the political realism advocated by these two thinkers and scrutinizes whether their perspectives were shaped by the epochs in which they lived and their personal experiences. Despite the significant similarities in the initial political and methodological approaches of the two thinkers, as well as their methods of analyzing social events, it is evident that they ultimately arrived at very different conclusions. Consequently, the advice they offered to rulers and caliphs diverged considerably. Additionally, it explores the similarities and differences between Machiavelli's principles and Ibn Khaldun's historiographical perspectives. Particularly, Ibn Khaldun's realist approach diverges significantly from Machiavelli's realism, and the underlying reasons for this discrepancy are discussed in this study. The fundamental concepts and assertions used by the two thinkers in their works are compared in terms of their realist approaches and analyses. In conclusion, this study meticulously compares the political philosophies of Machiavelli and Ibn Khaldun, aiming to shed light on the origins and characteristics of realism within different geographical and cultural contexts. It also asserts that despite both thinkers being realists, their understandings of realism significantly differ from each other. Keywords: Realism, Historism, Machiavelli, Khaldun, Society, Politics