Idea
This claim states that the modern state is based on popular will, that is, on a source of legitimacy that comes from the people rather than from an authority above them. This changes the very meaning of governance, because it makes the citizen part of the founding of power rather than merely subject to it. It also opens the way to understanding citizenship as a civic relationship grounded in participation and responsibility.
Concise Formulation
The modern state: is based: on popular will
Its Place in the Book’s Argument
This statement appears at the heart of the shift from the old conception of power to the modern one. It supports the argument that distinguishes between religious legitimacy and civil legitimacy, and links politics to the principle of collective choice. For this reason, the claim constitutes a key point in explaining how the state and the citizen are redefined within a modern horizon.
Why It Matters
The importance of this statement is that it identifies the basis on which the modern state rests in this book: popular legitimacy. This is an important key to understanding Arkoun when he discusses politics, because it shows that he approaches governance from the perspective of citizenship and the common agreement. It also helps clarify the difference between religious belonging and civic belonging.
Brief Evidence
This claim states that the modern state is based on popular will, that is, on a source of legitimacy that comes from the people rather than from an authority above them. This changes the very meaning of governance, because it makes the citizen part of the founding of power rather than merely subject to it. It also opens the way to understanding citizenship as a civic relationship grounded in participation and responsibility.
Reading Questions
- What changes in the meaning of the state when popular will becomes its basic source?
- How does the concept of citizenship here differ from the religious conception of the person?
Degree of Documentation
High: the claim appears in a clear location in the book’s material.