The essential idea of leftism

The people cry out for shorter, more controversial posts!

The essential idea of leftism is that the world should be governed by scholars.

(By “scholar” what I mean is, of course, “intellectual.” But I don’t like this word, for the same reason I don’t like the word “liberal”—it makes me sound like Rush Limbaugh. Once any collective description acquires negative connotations in anyone’s mind, it is no longer useful. Also, note that there is no meaningful distinction between a scholar and a priest.)

Can anyone find an exception to this rule—i.e., a mass movement that is generally described as “leftist,” but which does not in practice imply the rule of scholars, or at least people who think of themselves as scholars? Your comments, as always, are welcomed with enthusiasm.