Constitutional declarations of political principles signal their impotence, not their power

Evidence

The inclusion of pan-Arabism in the constitutions of Arab states, alongside the guarantees of personal liberty, freedom of expression, etc., is perhaps a sign of its decline, for in this constitutional tradition, the enactment of political principles is a substitute for their enforcement, not a means of ensuring it. — Bernard Lewis, From Babel to Dragomans, 921

Categorization

• DEEPTHINKING: The observation that enshrining a political principle in constitutions marks its decline rather than its triumph is a genuinely counterintuitive, paradigm-shifting lens on law and politics that would reward re-reading.
• XREF: connects to: An extra-parliamentary critical public without mass roots is condemned to impotence — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 2381; Soviet delegates judged formal rights hollow without economic transformation — Jessica Whyte, The Morals of the Market: Human Rights…, 225; The Declaration’s authority depended on mass proclamation, not just a vote. — Edward J. Larson, Declaring Independence, 225 (+1 more)