What have intellectuals ever done for the world?

The Observer | Comment | What have intellectuals ever done for the world?: "Last week came an announcement from the University of London's Birkbeck College that it intends to establish a centre for public intellectuals. Its international director is to be Professor Slavoj Zizek. In case you haven't heard of this 'world-renowned public intellectual', Zizek has published more than 50 books 'on topics ranging from philosophy and Freudian and Lacanian psychoanalysis, to theology, film, opera and politics'.

He was also a candidate for the presidency of his native Slovenia in the first democratic elections after the break-up of Yugoslavia in 1990. 'Political issues are too serious to be left only to politicians,' says Zizek. 'We need intellectuals - not to make decisions, but to make clear what the issues are about.' "