Sociologists As Intellectuals and Their Role in Post-Communist Transformation

The author discusses the role of sociologists in a role of intellectuals in the process of post-communist transformation. His main claim is that the intellectual engagement of sociologists is necessary for successful societal transformation in former communist countries. However, it threatens the ideologisation and politicisation of academic space. For developmentally beneficial intellectual engagement to take place, several conditions (at both the personal and systemic levels) must be fulfilled. One can speak about intellectual imagination in terms of avoidance of stereotypes and clichés); autonomy toward the political elite and other powerholders; critical distance, especially toward one's ideological orientations and political beliefs; dedication in terms of devoting time and energy to public causes; and pluralism, meaning the existence of different ideological strains within the intellectual circle.