ABSTRACT
The phenomenon of the intellectuals we are discussing in this study dates back only to the nineteenth century and as such it is associated with Western imperialism, acculturation with the Western world, and the stirring of the masses in the developing societies. It presumes the syncretic historical setting forged out of modern as well as traditional elements. Here also a comparative enquiry with reference to the Western world is not without benefit, for some of these modern elements may operate in the Asian setting as well. There is Andreski’s view on the prestige of the intellectuals, which he suggests depends on the interplay of various factors. He lists seven of them. (1) Other things being equal the prestige is higher in nations with little power. Thus in Europe the prestige of the intellectuals was higher in Holland and Denmark than in Imperial Germany though in Imperial Germany it was much higher than in England or America. (2) Other things being equal, their prestige is higher in poorer countries. Lack of success in seeking power and wealth may lead a nation to value its culture more highly and thereby add prestige to those who promote it. (3) The disdain for manual labour tends to increase the value of the intellectuals but only if they are valued on other grounds as well. There are many societies dominated by a military nobility or the hereditary rich that do not value either intellectual or manual labour. (4) The prestige is high if educational qualifications are needed for attaining a high rank in society. The classical example is ancient China. (5) The prestige is greatly affected by wealth. (6) In view of the fact that none of the above alone is sufficient, the prestige is high only in a society where grading is synthetic, that is, an intuitive synthesis of assessments in respect of several distinct criteria. (7) Past association with successful popular movements increases the prestige of intellectuals. The intellectuals were the standard-bearers of the bourgeois struggle against the aristocracy in France and Germany. Their status in these countries became very high after the victory of the bourgeoisie. 1
