Наткнулся на просто лучшую цитату о необходимости изучать не только политиков, но и интеллектуалов и экспертов, которые на политиков влияют. Сам автор в такого рода влиянии знал толк чуть ли не лучше всех в XX веке.

The ideas of economists and political philosophers are more powerful than is commonly understood. Practical men, who believe themselves to be quite exempt from any intellectual influences, are usually the slaves of some defunct economist. Madmen in authority, who hear voices in the air, are distilling their frenzy from some academic scribbler of a few years back. I am sure that the power of vested interests is vastly exaggerated compared with the gradual encroachment of ideas.