Why experts are replacing intellectuals in the Arab world

Further, experts tend to work for institutions whose objectives they uphold, and are rewarded for their efforts with money, or perhaps awards. 

They aren't motivated by the same moral and ethical incentives that, until recently, had fuelled intellectual pursuits.

But in a world driven by economic interests and high-level productivity, the significance of this intellectual legacy — wherein individuals serve the greater good — holds less weight.

Then and now

Intellectuals once derived their value and worth from the roles they performed, the principles they defended, and the commitments that bound them.

Their main mission was to challenge the status quo. They drove awareness of history, defended the vulnerable and marginalised, and acted as the world's conscience.

Most intellectuals were thus regarded as "leftists" – leaders, masterminds, and sponsors of all revolutions. Their names were used to "sway public opinion".

On the other hand, experts were linked to more practical ideas. Typically, they weren't expected to come up with long-term plans or achieve major accomplishments.

Their main priorities were being efficient and producing immediate results. Their intellectual work was meant to birth tangible outcomes, like drafting laws and resolutions.

Despite this, societies hoped experts could become a viable alternative to intellectuals.

Today, traditional and "cultural" influences have become less capable of shaping our realities.

In contemporary spectator societies, intellectuals no longer assume their expected roles as critics, analysts, mentors, or the voice of the masses.

Instead, they have become the decisive authority that determines the world's affairs. They hold public opinion and behaviour in the palm of their hands.

We wait for them to speak or act so that we can see the world as they see it. No sooner do they commit to a stance than the masses flock to applaud them and follow in their footsteps.

A new role for intellectuals

But some philosophical stances still value the role of intellectuals.

They assign them new tasks, different from their traditional roles of convincing, persuading, preaching, raising awareness, or guiding people towards righteousness.

According to French philosopher Michel Foucault, the role of an intellectual goes beyond simply critiquing scientific content related to ideology or ensuring their own scientific practices align with a "correct" ideology.

Instead, their primary task is to delve into the prospect of establishing a new "politics of truth". They do this by constantly reevaluating what society considers to be unquestionably true within their respective fields of expertise.

It's important to note that, according to Foucault, the intellectual's objective is not to change individual people's beliefs or consciousness directly.

Rather, their focus lies in scrutinising the broader political, economic, and institutional frameworks that shape how truth is produced and disseminated.

Therefore, intellectuals shouldn't serve as the ultimate authority dictating what is true or defining the rules of knowledge and methodology. Nor should they function as ideological advocates, aiming to discredit opposing beliefs or to serve as moral compasses.

Their goal is to disentangle truth from the prevailing hegemonic systems of society, including social norms, economic structures, and cultural influences, which exert control over the production and spread of truth.

By doing so, they aspire to open up new possibilities for generating and sharing knowledge.

Personal pursuits

However, Foucault's vision has not been fruitful in the Arab world. People have looked to other alternatives to fill the void.

In several Arab countries, a new type of intellectual emerged — the "technical" intellectual who is not associated with traditional think tanks or intelligentsia defending specific values. 

Instead, they are circumstantial and bred by the media.

Like experts, they seek instant results, motivated by their own interests, operating without the backing of massive institutions that benefit from their expertise or invest in them.

These intellectuals' pursuits are purely personal, as is their set of skills, which includes adaptability to changing times — and the exploitation of opportunities, as and when they arise.