«In captivity of political passions, igniting hearts»: a study of the role of an intellectual in socio-political processes

Since the beginning of the XX century, society has been in dire need of well-educated specialists who would be irreplaceable and in demand in all areas of public life, from science to politics. Experts who have been involved in political issues in civil society institutions and public authorities have had a tremendous influence on the political processes taking place within the state - they are intellectuals. This article attempts to study the intellectual as a socio-political actor, based on the works of Western political scientists and philosophers. The purpose of the article is to study the role of the intellectual in socio-political processes. The main tasks are the analysis of the intellectual as a “participant in politics”, the consideration of the theory of the dichotomy of intellectuals and the study of the stabilization/destabilization of the social system by this social group. The study found that a favorable political future for a country is impossible without the participation of intellectuals. Foresight and the ability to make socio-political decisions must be carried out by those individuals who are not involved in power struggles. They should be those who are called the voice of the people and who are responsible to society.