In this volume, three Norwegian and three English scholars examine the role of intellectuals in these two countries following World War II. The book investigates the influence of intellectuals on politics and also on relations between the two countries. Several tendencies in post-war societies have shaped the role of intellectuals - secularization, professionalization, internationalization, the rise of populism, etc. Although intellectual is a fairly common term in both countries, it often tends to fall between two chairs as an analytic concept. Therefore, it should perhaps rather be viewed as a terminological meeting point where several interesting societal phenomena may be studied.