In developing countries, the extent to which intellectuals disengage themselves in state activities has widespread consequences for the social, political, and economic development of those societies. Roderic Camps’ examination of intellectuals in Mexico is the first study of a Latin American country to detail the structure of intellectual life, rather than merely considering intellectual ideas. Camp has used original sources, including extensive interviews, to provide new data about the evolution of leading Mexican intellectuals and their relationship to politics and politicians since 1920.

• Acknowledgments
• 1. Introduction
  • Methodology
• 2. Politics, the State, and Intellectuals
  • The Mexican Model
  • Political Culture
  • Political Structures
  • Nonstate Structures
  • Conclusions
• 3. The Mexican Intellectual
  • A Universal Conceptualization
  • A Mexican Intellectual’s Definition
  • A Mexican Public Figure’s Definition
  • Conclusions
• 4. The Function of the Mexican Intellectual
  • Social Conditions and the Intellectual’s Role
  • Foreign Determinants of Intellectual Roles
  • Cultural Determinants of Intellectual Roles
  • The Role of the Mexican Intellectual
  • A View from Intellectuals and Politicians
  • Conclusions
• 5. Family Background and Education
  • Consequences of Birthplace
  • Consequences of Residence
  • Consequences of Social Background
  • Consequences of Education
  • Conclusions
• 6. Career Patterns
  • Occupations: Uncommon Choices
  • Occupations: Frequent Choices
  • Career Choices and Public Service
  • Other Experiences
  • Conclusions
• 7. Intellectual Mentors and Circles
  • The Intellectual Mentor
  • The University and Recruitment
  • The Journal and Recruitment
  • The Role of Intellectual Circles
  • The Independent Intellectual
  • Some Important Intellectual Groups
  • Conclusions
• 8. Cultural Academies and Institutions
  • The Importance of Mexican Cultural Institutions
  • The Academies
  • National Prizes
  • The Universities
  • Conclusions
• 9. Media, Censorship, and Intellectual Life
  • Media Impact
  • Characteristics of Mexican Media
  • Government Censorship
  • Self-Censorship
  • Government Censorship Techniques
  • Conclusions
• 10. Serving the State
  • The Consequences of 1968
  • Patterns of Intellectual Relationships to the State
  • Why Intellectuals Have Served the State
  • Consequences of Serving the State
• 11. Conclusions
• Notes
• Bibliographic Essay
• Index