Academics and Despots II

In musing about the significance of the series of political events in the Middle east and North Africa over the last few weeks, I posted a piece on an article by Dani Rodrik. And as the post states, it seemed that Dani Rodrik was the only prominent scholar that I had read who addressed himself to the difficult issue of what posture intellectuals should adopt in interaction with despotic regimes. Dani talks about a follow up interview here.

An intellectual from Egypt has now added a different voice to that debate. Nawaz El Saadawi writes with contemptuous regard for Egypt's elite. In the author's view, the intellectuals among Egypt's elite seem to know on which side their bread is buttered. As a consequence, they deploy their ability to communicate to a wide audience by applauding the young revolutionaries while also tacitly trying to prevent full trial of Mubarak. As the article states, they are not driven by the need to stop vengeance "per se", but are merely defending a regime that they have applauded for decades.

On my part, the advise is the same. Keep away from regimes that have no respect for life or dignity at a minimum. Any association with despots rarely turns out well. And I mention this with full knowledge that despots are often very determined for acclamation and the refusal of one academic merely means that there are twenty more who would gladly take that position.