Intelligentsia
Intelligentsia is a social class of intellectuals and close to them social groups (e. g. artists, school teachers), which can be also seen as a class of mental workers in opposition to "non working" aristocracy on one hand and to manual laborers on other.
The term first appeared in Poland in the first half of 19th century. It was later accepted into Russian, and from there it came into English. In English this word is often applied to the such class in Central European and Eastern European countries in 19th - 20th centuries. Such distinguishing was based on economical and cultural situation of intellectuals in these countries, different from Western European or American one. These differences were caused by various historical processes, whose influence still is disputed by historians. Presence of long-lasting autocratic regimes or national suppression in this region, or less high level of literacy in these countries than in Western European ones (in the 19th century) are among them. This situation motivated local intellectuals to elaborate a system of common values and a sense of internecine sympathy.
Additionally, intelligentsia of the Central and Eastern Europe, being divided mostly by national dependence, fostered a sense of responsibility for one's nation, up to believe, that progress of a nation mostly depends on cultural level of intelligentsia of the nation. This self-confidence often led Eastern European intelligentsia to play a role of non-existing political opposition, and position of intelligentsia always had significant consequences to revolutions or national liberation movements in the Central and Eastern Europe.
Presently, some authors point to an ongoing extinguishing of intelligentsia in Central and Eastern Europe or a changing intelligentsia into class of intellectuals or simply middle class. In this case also a new tendency, to make opposition between intelligentsia and intellectuals, is seen.
The Intelligentsia in Poland
In Poland, the intelligentsia comprised a social class. After the World War II.
Today, members of the Polish intelligentsia are not necessarily educated people, but people sharing common values: literate, patriotic, believing in their duties etc. However the concept is eroding and the class is slowly disappearing, while its place is being taken by the newborn Polish middle class.
