Cattivi Maestri : Intellectuals and Radical Political Mobilization

In this introduction to the Special Issue, we lay out the main lines of inquiry that guide our study. The main question addressed is the role of intellectuals in episodes of radical political mobilization, that is actions bent on challenging or upending the incumbent political order. In particular, we focus on the intellectuals’ production and intellectuals’ activity. To do this, we address in turn the questions of who can be considered an intellectual, and how do they establish (or fail to do so) a connection with other social actors to spur and sustain political mobilization. The main goal is to map the different ways in which these process and dynamics unfold. This mapping is carried out by analyzing a host of different contexts, thanks to a comparative approach that is intended to juxtapose cases from a diverse array of ideational traditions, cultural milieus and political projects.