12
PARTISAN REVIEW
stitutional staff, in the mass-culture industries and the academy, intel–
lectuals have been welcomed and absorbed as never before. It is true,
again, that "wealth" has become far more indulgent in its treatment
of intellectuals, and for good reasons: it needs them more than ever,
they are tamer than ever, and its own position is more comfortable
and expansive than it has been for a long time. But
if
"wealth" has
made a mild bow toward "intellect" (sometimes while picking its
pocket) then "intellect" has engaged in some undignified prostrations
before "wealth." Thirty years ago "wealth" was on the defensive,
and twenty years ago it was frightened, hesitant, apologetic. "Intel–
lect" was self-confident, aggressive, secure in its belief or, if you wish,
delusions. Today the ideology of American capitalism, with its claim
to a unique and immaculate destiny, is trumpeted through every
medium of communication: official propaganda, institutional adver–
tising and the scholarly writings of people who, until a few years
ago, were its major opponents. Marx-baiting, that least risky of occu–
pations, has become a favorite sport in the academic journals; a
whining genteel chauvinism is widespread among intellectuals; and
the bemoaning of their own fears and timidities a constant theme
among professors. Is this to be taken as evidence that "wealth" has
subordinated itself to "intellect"? Or is the evidence to be found in
the careers of such writers as Max Eastman and James Burnham?
To be sure, culture has acquired a more honorific status, as restrained
ostentation has replaced conspicuous consumption: wealthy people
collect more pictures or at least more modern ones, they endow
foundations with large sums-but all this is possible because "intel–
lect" no longer pretends to challenge "wealth."
What has actually been taking place is the absorption of large
numbers of intellectuals, previously independent, into the world of
government bureaucracy and public committees; into the constantly
growing industries of pseudo-culture; into the adult education busi–
ness, which subsists on regulated culture-anxiety. This process of
bureaucratic absorption does not proceed without check: the Eisen–
hower administration has recently dismissed a good many intellectuals
from government posts. Yet it seems likely that such stupidity will
prove temporary and that one way or another, in one administration
or another, the intellectuals will drift back into the government: they
must, they are indispensable.
Some years ago C. Wright Mills wrote an article in which he
