The Idea
The idea is based on the notion that a crisis of legitimacy arises when ideological and theological discourse dominates the interpretation of reality and the attribution of authority. At that point, the question is no longer: what is actually happening? Rather: how is the meaning formulated that justifies what is happening? The reading here suggests that the crisis is not only political, but also a crisis in the way meaning is produced.
Concise Formulation
Crisis of legitimacy: tied to the dominance of ideological and theological discourse over reality
Its Place in the Book’s Argument
This idea appears within the argument that links politics to discourse and to the way society understands itself. It clarifies that legitimacy is not built on force alone, but on the language that justifies force and grants it acceptance. Therefore, critique of discourse becomes part of the critique of the structure of power, not a marginal comment on it.
Why It Matters
This idea helps us understand Arkoun as a critic of mechanisms of justification, not of politics alone. It reveals that legitimacy, in his view, is both an intellectual and a social question. Without it, it is difficult to understand why he connects the state, religion, and the language that legitimizes rule.
Reading Questions
- How do ideological and theological discourse produce the meaning of legitimacy?
- Why is the crisis of legitimacy not understood as a political crisis only?