There is no such thing as "intellectualism". There are only intellectuals, people who believe the life of the mind is important and worthwhile. They aren't necessarily smarter than anyone else, but they think its important to be that way.

Tyrants and other political thugs have always been anti-intellectual, because intellectuals are likely to question and distrust the knee-jerk emotionalism common to most political discourse: nationalism, cultural chauvinism, nativism, religious fanaticism, exceptionalism, fear of the Other, class hatred, racism, economic anxiety, any other push-button issue that can be mobilized by a demagogue to generate and keep followers.

Of course, intellectuals aren't necessarily right, that should be clear to anyone who sees intellectuals arguing opposite sides of an issue. At least one, and maybe both, are mistaken; or maybe the truth lies somewhere between the extremes of their positions. Or maybe there is no truth, no real answer to the question they are arguing. But when you hear a demagogue attacking intellectuals in the abstract, as a class, you know he's a stinker. He fears people who think.

Unfortunately, America has always had an anti-intellectual streak. We distrust intellectuals, we think of them as effete, cowardly, indecisive, not men of action, as dithering fools. We feel they are effeminate and subversive. We are, as far as I know, the only nation where "smarty=pants", "smart-ass", "wise-guy" and other terms indicating exceptional intelligence are insults. The nerds and geeks in high school never got laid, and were always picked on. And of course, school itself is a place for sports and sex and social climbing, all the way to the college level. No one wants to get a reputation as a "brain". Brains are conceited, snobs, unfashionable. They are dangerous. They want our stuff.

It's odd, because America has produced more than its share of intellectuals, in politics, commerce, the arts, and the sciences. But as a people, we don't like them. Intelligence is something that is allowed, and can only be displayed openly, in athletics and in business.