Intellectuals and the People

the long version

Intellectuals and the People is extensively researched and engages with prominent theorists in order to intervene in contemporary debates about the relation of intellectuals to society. It sets out to demonstrate that discussions of the intellectual and society focus upon the vulnerability or declining authority of the intellectual and overlook the extent to which supposed differences between intellectuals and 'other people' support wider existing social and political inequalities. Angie Sandhu focuses on the implication of power and authority for intellectuals and their work and argues against the notion that intellectual autonomy is beneficial either for intellectuals or society. She places intellectuals in a more constructive and egalitarian relation to 'other people', and concludes by referring to the promising development in Latin America, in particular the Zapatistas, who are challenging inequalities and hierarchies within theory and practice.