Classic Islamic Political Thought Translated into Korean: 'A Kingdom Cannot Endure with Oppression'

A new Korean translation of the 11th-century classic "The Book of Politics" by Nizam al-Mulk, a Persian scholar and vizier to the Seljuk Empire, has been released.

The book, originally titled "Siyasat-nama," offers a comprehensive guide to governance, covering everything from the qualities of a just ruler to administrative principles, taxation, and judicial systems. It is considered a foundational text in Islamic political thought, often compared to Machiavelli's "The Prince" for its practical advice on rulership.

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If there is oppression, the kingdom cannot endure.

However, unlike Machiavelli's focus on pragmatic power, Nizam al-Mulk emphasizes the importance of religious values and moral authority in maintaining a just political order. He argues that a kingdom cannot endure with oppression, highlighting the necessity of justice for the state's survival. The book is filled with historical anecdotes and practical examples, offering insights into the functioning of a bureaucratic state in the Islamic world a millennium ago.

The translation was undertaken by Yu Dal-seung, a professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies who was the first foreigner to earn a doctorate in Middle Eastern politics from Tehran University after the 1979 Iranian Revolution. The book is divided into two parts: the first 39 chapters outline fundamental principles of governance, while the latter 11 chapters address threats to the Seljuk dynasty, such as the Ismailis and internal court intrigues, reflecting the author's awareness of the challenges in both establishing and maintaining a state.

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If any king or emperor reads this book, the more they read it, the more profound insight they will gain into spiritual and worldly matters, and the path of righteous rule and excellent politics will be fully opened before them.