Trust, in the philosophy of Anṭūn Saʿadeh, is far more than a social sentiment or an ethical preference. It is a foundational principle, a moral force that binds individuals into a unified community and equips a nation to rise to the level of its historical responsibilities. Saʿadeh regarded trust as indispensable to any constructive national project, affirming that “our movement is built on trust, and by trust we struggle.”[1] In his view, trust constitutes both a psychological strength and a structural necessity for a society seeking renaissance.
Academically, trust functions as a form of social capital—a resource that enhances cooperation, reduces uncertainty, and facilitates the coordination of collective action. Modern social and economic theory acknowledges this truth: economies flourish where trust lowers transaction costs, supports institutional stability, and encourages innovation. As Diane Coyle observes, “a high-value economy is a high-trust one.”[2] Saʿadeh anticipated this insight, insisting that no society can achieve progress if doubt, fragmentation, and suspicion dominate its social relations.
But Saʿadeh’s understanding of trust goes deeper than economic functionality. In his thought, trust is intertwined with the very definition of nationality. He asserts that “nationalism is the confidence of a people in themselves.”[3] This confidence—rooted in self-knowledge, dignity, and a belief in one’s collective mission—is what transforms a population into a nation capable of creative achievement. Trust, therefore, becomes a moral energy through which individuals overcome inertia, fatalism, and dependency, and through which a society generates its capacity for creation, organization, and advancement.
Saʿadeh linked trust directly to democratic practice. Democracy, he argued, cannot exist in an environment devoid of mutual confidence. It requires citizens who believe in one another, who take responsibility for the public good, and who entrust their representatives with the authority to act for national welfare. As he stated clearly: “Trust is at the heart of the democratic system.”[4] Without this moral foundation, public life disintegrates into cynicism, factionalism, and paralysis.
Moreover, Saʿadeh emphasized that trust is not passive. It is cultivated through clear principles, disciplined organization, and institutions capable of embodying the collective will. He urged his followers to practice “total clarity and complete frankness,”[5] regarding these as essential conditions for strengthening internal confidence and enabling purposeful national action. Trust, then, is not merely believed; it is produced through ethical behaviour, transparent communication, and a culture of responsibility.
At the inspirational level, trust in Saʿadeh’s thought becomes a call to self-awakening. It is a summons to believe in our inherent abilities, in the beauty of our national character, and in the immense creative potential stored within the Syrian people. He reminded his followers: “In you there is a power that, if activated, will change the face of history.”[6] This power is nothing other than the enlightened will of a people who trust themselves, trust their mission, and act with unity of purpose.
Ultimately, trust is the moral architecture of national renaissance. It is the force that transforms despair into initiative, fragmentation into unity, and weakness into creativity. A society rich in trust becomes capable of great achievements—capable of building institutions, advancing knowledge, and shaping a better future.
In Saʿadeh’s vision, trust is not optional. It is the first condition of national life, the spiritual bond of the social order, and the indispensable energy for a rising Syria. When trust becomes a living reality in the hearts of citizens, a new horizon opens—one in which the nation can fulfill its promise and take its rightful place among the builders of human civilization.
[1] Antun Sa’adeh Al-‘Athar al-Kamilah- Al-Rasa’il (Complete works), vol. 1, Beirut: SSNP Cultural Department, 1978, p. 109.
[2] Diane Coyle. The Economics of Enough: How to Run the Economy as if the Future Matters, Princeton: Princeton university Press, 2011, p. 151.
[3] Antun Sa’adeh. Al-Muhadarat al-‘Ashr (The ten Lectures), Beirut: SSNP, 1976, p. 33.
[4] Sa´adeh, Antun. Collected Works. Vol 4, p. 137.
[5] Antun Sa‘adeh, In His Forced Exile, 1939, Complete Works, vol. 6, p. 265.
[6] Antun Sa‘adeh, Complete Works – Volume 3 (1937), p. 54.