The IIIT Books-In-Brief Series is a valuable collection of the Institute’s key publications written in condensed form designed to give readers a core understanding of the main contents of the original. Produced in a short, easy to read, time-saving format, these companion synopses offer a close, carefully written over- view of the larger publication and it is hoped will stimulate readers into further exploration of the original. The Socio-Intellectual Foundations of Malek Bennabi’s Approach to Civilization was published in complete form in 2011. Since Samuel Huntington’s essay “The Clash of Civilizations?” first appeared concern over civilization and conflict has been reintroduced into the debate on the world order. Malek Bennabi (1905–1973), prominent Algerian thinker and great Muslim intellectual, intently focused on unravelling the causes of Muslim decline and the success of Western civilization and cul- ture. The key problem he theorized lay not in the Qur’an or Islamic faith but in Muslims themselves. The author investigates Bennabi’s approach to civilization and the fundamental principles drawn, using metatheoriz- ing methodology. In doing so he sheds further light on perhaps one of the more intriguing elements of Bennabi’s theory, that civilization is gov- erned by internal-external and social-intellectual factors and that an equation can be generated for civilization itself. This equation of Man+ Soil+Time = Civilization and of which religion, according to Bennabi, formsthe all-important catalyst, is explained and itssignificance in terms of the reversal of Muslim decline evaluated. What is clearly apparent is that for Bennabi, Man is the central force in any civilizing process and without him the othertwo elements are of no value. With regard to outcomes, Bennabi’s unerring conviction that unless Muslims changed their spiritual condition they could not effect any far- reaching, meaningful change in society is echoed in the Qur’anic verse: Socio-Intellectual Foundations _Layout 1 20/03/2013 11:43 Page 3 “Verily, never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves” (13:11). Book The Sociointellectual Foundations of Malek Bennabi’s Approach to Civilization author : Since the publication of Samuel Huntington s The Clash of Civilizations concern about civilization has been reintroduced into the debate on the world order. Malek Bennabi _1905 1973_, prominent Algerian thinker and great Muslim intellectual, intently focused on unraveling the causes of Muslim decline and the success of Western civilization and culture….