The future of intellectuals and the rise of the new class : a frame of reference, theses, conjectures, arguments, and an historical perspective on the role of intellectuals and intelligentsia in the international class contest of the modern era

The contemporary world projects a perplexing picture of political, social and economic upheaval. In these challenging times the conventional wisdoms of orthodox social thought whether it be sociology, economics or cultural studies become inadequate. This series focuses on this intellectual crisis, selecting authors whose work seeks to transcend the limitations of conventional discourse. Its tone is scholarly rather than polemical, in the belief that significant theoretical work is needed to clear the way for a genuine transformation of the existing social order. Because of this, the series will relate closely to recent developments in social thought, particularly to critical theory-the emerging European tradition. In terms of specific topics, key pivotal areas of debate have been selected, for example mass culture, inflation, problems of sexuality and the family, the nature of the capitalist state, natural science and ideology. The scope of analysis is broad: the series attempts to break the existing arbitrary divisions between the social-studies disciplines. Its aim is to provide a platform for critical social thought (at a level quite accessible to students) to enter into the major theoretical controversies of the decade. Front Matter....Pages i-vi Introduction....Pages 1-8 Defects of the Marxist Scenario....Pages 9-9 Peasants and Vanguards....Pages 10-11 New Class, Visible and Invisible....Pages 11-15 Arenas of Context....Pages 16-18 The New Class as a Cultural Bourgeoisie....Pages 18-27 The New Class as a Speech Community....Pages 28-43 Education and the Reproduction of the New Class....Pages 43-47 Intelligentsia and Intellectuals....Pages 48-49 Old Line Bureaucrats, New Staff Intelligentsia....Pages 49-53 Revolutionary Intellectuals....Pages 53-57 The Alienation of Intellectuals and Intelligentsia....Pages 57-73 The Family in the Reproduction of Alienation....Pages 73-74 Dilemmas of Marxism and the Vanguard Organization....Pages 75-82 The Flawed Universal Class....Pages 83-85 The Political Context....Pages 85-89 Consolations for a Dying Class....Pages 89-92 Epilogue....Pages 93-93 Back Matter....Pages 94-121