asabiyya

Asabiyya is a term from Islamic and Arab sociological thought referring to social cohesion and group solidarity that binds a community, often based on kinship or shared identity. The word derives from a root meaning to bind or tie together, with asabiyya describing a powerful social bond that enables collective action and loyalty.

In Ibn Khaldun’s Muqaddimah (14th century), asabiyya is the central force behind the rise and fall of dynasties. Strong asabiyya allows a tribal or confederate group to unite, mobilize, and conquer others, providing legitimacy for rulers and capacity for sustained governance. Urban civilizations, by contrast, are said to suffer weaker asabiyya, especially when exposed to luxury and internal factionalism.

The typical theory describes a cyclical pattern: a group with high asabiyya defeats neighbors and forms a new dynasty; over time, conquest gives way to sedentary life, wealth, and luxury, which erode the cohesion and discipline of the ruling group. Asabiyya weakens, making them vulnerable to newer groups with revived solidarity, leading to a political replacement and the rise of a successor dynasty.

Asabiyya is not identical to modern nationalism or civic virtue. It is often tied to kinship, lineage, or strong religious or cultural bonds, and can be reinforced by leadership and ritual. It can operate across tribes, clans, or religious communities, sometimes supporting cohesion in diverse polities, but it is also invoked in debates about tribalism and social fragmentation.

In contemporary usage, the concept appears in political science and anthropology as a way to analyze social cohesion, collective action, and legitimacy. Critics caution against essentialist readings and emphasize institutions, leadership, and economic factors as interacting with group solidarity.