The Idea
The text links the possibility of establishing a state of right and law and an open civil society to a broader global shift toward certain values. The issue is not presented here as a purely local decision, but as part of a larger transformation in the understanding of governance and the relationship between the individual and institutions. The point is that building an open political sphere requires intellectual and ethical conditions that go beyond the narrow boundaries of everyday politics.
Concise Formulation
The establishment of a state of right and law and an open civil society is linked to a global shift toward
Its Place in the Book’s Argument
This claim occupies an important place because it situates political reform within a broader historical horizon. The text does not present a just state as a merely isolated ideal; rather, it connects it to a global direction that supports the values of right, law, and openness. In this way, internal transformation becomes conditioned also by a change in the general intellectual and value climate, not by local will alone.
Why It Matters
Its importance lies in showing that Arkoun does not separate politics from the broader culture of values. An open state is not merely an administrative form, but the outcome of wider conceptions of the human being, freedom, and legitimacy. This helps the reader understand that, for him, reform is a long-term project tied to mental structures as much as to institutions.
Brief Evidence
The text links the possibility of establishing a state of right and law and an open civil society to a broader global transformation toward values. The issue is not presented as a purely local decision, but as part of a larger change in the understanding of governance and the relationship between the individual and institutions. In this sense, building an open political sphere requires intellectual and ethical conditions that exceed the narrow internal framework.
Reading Questions
- What does it mean to link the establishment of an open state to a global shift toward values?
- Does the text see political reform as possible from within alone, or does it require broader conditions?
Degree of Documentation
High: the claim appears in a clear location in the book’s material.