The illusion of meritocracy

Bibliographic Data

ID3085340
AuthorsTong Zhang (0000-0003-1637-0666, BI Norwegian Business School, corresponding author)
Year2024
Volume63
Issue1
Pages114-128
Publication date2024-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial Science Information (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0539-0184 • E-ISSN: 1461-7412
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/05390184241230406
OpenAlexW4392103677
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited35

Meritocracy claims to reward the meritorious with more resources, thereby achieving social efficiency and justice in a level playground. This article argues that the rise of meritocracy in a society is the institutional consequence of adopting progressive humanism, an ideal-type worldview that advocates the harmonious co-realization of individual achievement and social contribution. However, meritocracy is a self-defeating illusion because, even in a level playground, it only rewards conspicuous and wasteful display of 'merit' rather than genuine contributions to society. Similar to the promise of an afterlife to Catholicism, the illusion of meritocracy constitutes an indispensable theodicy to progressive humanism. For societies holding such worldviews, meritocracy is a necessary illusion that cannot be dispelled by institutional reforms or political movements

Cognitive psychology · Economics · Illusion · Meritocracy · Political science · Positive economics · Sociology · Law · Political and Economic history of UK and US · Political Influence and Corporate Strategies · Psychology · Social Policy and Reform Studies · Social Psychology

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