ibn khaldun describes "asabiyyah" as the bond of cohesion among humans in a group forming community. the bond, asabiyyah, exists at any level of civilization, from nomadic society to states and empires. asabiyyah is most strong in the nomadic phase, and decreases as civilization advances. as this asabiyyah declines, another more compelling asabiyyah may take its place; thus, civilizations rise and fall, and history describes these cycles of asabiyyah as they play out.