Epistemic Pluralism and Khaldounian Paradigm: Rethinking Social Science Beyond

Abstract

In the landscape of contemporary social sciences, the dominance of Western epistemology has long marginalized alternative frameworks rooted in non-European intellectual traditions. This article revisits the ideas of Ibn Khaldoun, the 14th-century Muslim scholar, to explore the possibility of constructing a non-Western paradigm for understanding social and political dynamics. The central research question guiding this study is: Can Ibn Khaldoun’s epistemological and methodological insights offer a viable alternative to Eurocentric foundations in the social sciences? To address this question, the article employs a descriptive-analytical method, drawing primarily on textual analysis of Ibn Khaldoun’s writings and secondary literature in historical sociology and postcolonial theory. The findings suggest that Ibn Khaldoun’s conceptual tools, particularly his notions of Asabiyyah, cyclical state dynamics, empirical historiography, and Multiplex paradigm, provide a sophisticated framework for analyzing social change that predates and, in some ways, anticipates modern sociology. By critically engaging with Eurocentrism and highlighting the originality and relevance of Ibn Khaldoun’s work, this study contributes to broader efforts in decolonizing the social sciences and expanding the theoretical foundations of global knowledge production.