As the editor of Arabica, he broadened the journal's scope, and played a significant role in shaping Western-language scholarship on Islam.

[5][6] In 2001, Arkoun was asked to deliver the Gifford Lectures, which enable a notable scholar to contribute to the advancement of theological and philosophical thought.

At the time of his death he was Emeritus Professor at La Sorbonne as well as Senior Research Fellow and member of the Board of Governors of The Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS), At IIS, he has taught various graduate courses including unthought in contemporary Islamic thought, rethinking Islam, contemporary challenges of Muslim world and traditions for almost a decade.

[9] Arkoun advocated a radical paradigm shift that would allow for the rethinking of Islam as a cultural and religious system and subvert ideological and dogmatic constructs with hegemonic claims.

Arkoun developed an inclusive approach which seeks to deal with Islamic tradition in its entirety, including elements characterised by the religious leaders as heterodox, and therefore marginalised and repressed.