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Intellectuals and Power
Long Sunday has seen recent speculations on the relationship between intellectuals (cold, narrow, and resenting!) and political power. It is, of course, a hot topic, with that Straussian conspiracy in full swing in significant sections of the American administration and the rise to power of the Conservation Party (formerly the Conservative-Reform Alliance Party -- no shit: their accronym was CRAP) in Canada with its ties to the Fraser Institute and, thus, the so-called "Calgary School" of Strausso-libertarian policy wonks. Not to be outdone, the social democratic party, the NDP, has Jack Layton, a former professor, as its leader. Really not wanting to be outdone after suffering increasingly embarassing defeats, the Liberal Party, also informally known as the Natural Ruling Party, is in search of a new leader. That is, in their minds, the next Prime Minister of Canada.
Among the contestants for this most honoured of offices are Michael Ignatieff and Stephane Dion, both former professors. According to the Toronto Star, the Liberal Party needs candidates with more than just "big brains", they also -- aiming at the rookie MP Ignatieff -- need candidates who are experienced at "simultaneously playing for themselves and the team". As far as I can tell, Ignatieff, as a successful (note: not necessarily good!) academic, is no doubt well versed in the art of promoting the self through promoting the department's interest. Afterall, this narrow conception of politics is precisely what we practice in the academy.
After being strong opponents of Ignatieff's candidacy in the riding of Etobicoke-Lakeshore, the Toronto Star has taken up the cause of attacking Ignatieff on the basis of his 'pro-torture-lite' stance. And excerpt from an essay, "Torture: Does it make us safer? Is it ever OK?", appears in today's Toronto Star under the title, "Ignatieff's Tortured Logic".
By Craig | April 8, 2006 in Canada, Intellects, Narrow and Cold and Resenting | Permalink
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Comments
what about nerds & power?
Posted by: northanger | Apr 8, 2006 9:01:05 PM
What's this, more Canadians bitching about their politicians? Nevertheless, good post.
Of course you know, Craig, it's the academics with a sense of humor they recruit...
Link to Stroganoff is broken.
Posted by: Charles | Apr 9, 2006 1:36:26 AM
I actually read Ignatieff's last work -- I reviewed it for a Canadian paper -- and it was a piece of work. At one point, the Director of the Harvard Human Rights Group or whatever it is called re-considers the infamous 1919 raids on radicals staged by Mitchell Palmer and his up and coming assistant, J. Edgar Hoover. In Ignatieff's measured view, these raids were a necessary countermeasure to the era's terrorist threat. While this view opens up whole abysses of ignorance, it gave me some career hope: obviously, it doesn't take much to get a highly paid post at Harvard. I've been thinking of fluffing my own resume with some defense of the concentration camp campaign in the Phillipines War for David Horowitz's rag. Maybe: Taking lessons from the Manly Epoch, with a little hat tip to Harvey Mansfield. Surely the gates of gold will open, and I'll soon be a fellow at the Brookings, the Carnegie institution of peace, and have some position at Harvard's JFK school itself.
Posted by: roger | Apr 9, 2006 2:03:01 PM
Roger, I think that sounds like a very wise decision.
You might also consider, if you have not already, plastic surgery (or a Malkin makeover). Preferably breast implants, which if political campaigns are any measure...
Posted by: Charles | Apr 9, 2006 4:43:26 PM
Whether I agree with Ignatieff or not, I see no problem with his method. His conclusion:
"If we are against torture [above he states that he himself is unconditionally against it], we are committed to arguing with our fellow citizens, not treating those who defend torture as moral monsters. Those of us who oppose torture should also be honest enough to admit that we may have to pay a price for our own convictions."
It seems sober and thought out. He seems as charitable as any intellectual should be. If the Toronto Star did in fact print this excerpt beneath the heading "Ignatieff's Tortured Logic," I’m extremely disappointed in them, as it looks to me like a fairly typical academic paper: consider multiple sides of an argument, synthesize a conclusion.
Posted by: chuk | Apr 10, 2006 1:45:06 AM
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