Intellectuals’ Political Orientations: Toward an Analytical Sociology

Abstract

This article surveys the field of the sociology of intellectuals, and calls for a move toward an analytical sociology. Topics covered are the definitions of intellectuals, the class nature of intellectuals, and the roles of intellectuals in society, in particular intellectuals' involvement in politics. This article then moves on to the literature on intellectuals' political consciousness, and makes a call for a shift from a moralistic mission to an analytical approach, and a shift from intellectuals as an "independent variable" to a "dependent variable."