Ibn Khaldun Center Advancing Development through Democratization and Civil Society
June 26, 2003
The Ibn Khaldun Center for Development Studies is a Cairo-based professional research organization, created in 1988.
Founded and directed by Saad Eddin Ibrahim -- who has suffered imprisonment for his work -- the Center's main objective lies in the advancement of applied social sciences with special emphasis on Egypt, the Arab World and developing countries.
The idea of an independent institution for applied social science research remained a lifelong dream for many Egyptians and Arabs, because the existing centers had direct or indirect ties to the state. This relationship has set, and continues to set restrictions on their activities.
The Center takes its name from the great Arab thinker, Abdel Rahman Ibn Khaldun (1332 -1406), the founder of Arab social science. Ibn Khaldun held various public offices in several Arab countries, and his experiences allowed him to provide major creative insights in the theoretical and applied aspects of the social sciences.
With Ibn Khaldun's example in mind, the Center has sought to apply the most contemporary social and human sciences to serve the development of Egypt and the Arab world. The Center adopted a comprehensive conception of development, addressing social, economic, political, and cultural dimensions. The Center's conception of development aims at freedom, democracy, justice and creativity.
ICDS has played a leadership role since its establishment, in terms of philosophy, activities and management. The staff of the Center values the organization because it provides a living embodiment of the principles of civil society and democracy, which they hope to advance in Egypt and the Arab world.
Link: http://www.ibnkhaldun.org
Keywords: development, democracy, civil society, social science, research, institute, Ibn Khaldun, Saad Eddin Ibrahim, Egypt, Arab