The Idea
This argument places the alliance between the United States and Saudi Arabia, together with the official Wahhabi formula, within a broader trajectory of nationalizing Islam and tying it to power. The point here is that religion is not left as an open field of plurality, but is reshaped to serve political interests. Official Wahhabism is therefore understood as part of this instrumentalization rather than as an independent religious expression.
Concise Formulation
The alliance between the United States and Saudi Arabia and the official Wahhabi formula are part of
Its Place in the Book’s Argument
This claim plays an explanatory role in the book’s argument because it links international politics to the reshaping of the religious field. The issue does not concern one country or one current alone, but a broader pattern in the governance of religion through power and alliances. In this way, the text enters into a critique of the structure that turns Islam into an object of control and use.
Why It Matters
The importance of this claim lies in the fact that it reveals the link between religion and power when religion becomes a political tool. This helps explain why Arkoun does not treat religious phenomena as isolated from historical conditions. It also illuminates an aspect of his critique of official religiosity when it becomes an obstacle to plurality and criticism.
Brief Evidence
This argument places the alliance between the United States and Saudi Arabia, and the official Wahhabi formula, within a broader trajectory of nationalizing Islam and tying it to power. The meaning is that religion is not left as an open field of plurality, but is reshaped to serve political interests. Official Wahhabism is therefore understood as part of this instrumentalization rather than as an independent religious expression.
Reading Questions
- How does religion become part of power in this view?
- What is the difference between free religious expression and a religious form tied to political interests?
Documentation Level
High: the claim appears in a clear location in the book’s material.