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Ibn Khaldun argued that when property rights are not protected, civilisations quickly run into ruin. His appreciation of the importance of property rights is clear if we look at his discussions on how places that succumb to the Bedoiuns were quickly ruined. Ibn Khaldun believes that the ruin is caused by the Bedouins’ lack of respect for property rights.

In talking about the Bedouins, Ibn Khaldun said:

…it is their nature to plunder whatever other people possess … They recognize no limit in taking the posessions of other people. Whenever their eyes fall upon some property, furnishings, or utensils, they take them. When they acquire superiority and royal authority, they have complete power to plunder (as they please). There no longer exists any political (power) to protect property, and civilization is ruined. (The Muqaddimah, translated by Franz Rosenthal (2005), p. 118 – 119)

The lack of respect of property rights is best exemplified by countries with socialistic, central-planning values (statism). In such countries, the government ‘nationalizes’ whatever they want as they please. Of course, they would say it is for the benefit of the country as a whole. But, we should look at the facts. Countries whose governments do not respect property rights have almost always failed to ensure prosperity for their citizens. The way forward, for any ambitious and visionary developing country, is to protect property rights.

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