The Idea
The idea is that the social imaginary is not marginal in public life, but a decisive force in making history. Major events are produced not only by interests or official decisions, but also by the shared meanings that give groups the impulse to act. In this sense, history is made in the symbolic sphere as much as it is made in the political sphere.
Condensed Formulation
The social imaginary: a decisive force in making history
Its Place in the Book’s Argument
This idea aligns with a project that rejects a single-cause explanation of history and seeks the hidden forces that guide it. It makes it possible to link social transformations to something beyond institutions and immediate events. It therefore helps build an argument that understanding Islam and society requires following what takes place in the collective imaginary, not in texts and authorities alone.
Why It Matters
The importance of this idea is that it reminds us history is not only the product of major decisions, but also of the representations that move groups from within. This broadens the horizon of reading and prevents simplification of transformations. It also explains why Arkoun pays attention to representations and symbols, because they are not intellectual ornaments but part of historical action.
Brief Evidence Passage
The idea is that the social imaginary is not marginal in public life, but a decisive force in making history. Major events are produced not only by interests or official decisions, but also by the shared meanings that give groups the impulse to act. In this sense, history is made in the symbolic sphere as much as it is made in the political sphere.
Reading Questions
- What is the difference between explaining history through interests and explaining it through the social imaginary?
- How can collective images become an actual historical force?
Degree of Documentation
High: the claim appears in a clear location in the book material.