I made an error this week by not discussing meritocracy with my 2301s. Its a cousin of oligarchy. Rule by an elite established by merit, not class. We often credit the U.S. with being a meritocracy, and claim that to be one of our principle virtues, but critics often wonder whether we are truly meritocratic, do family connections matter more than we let on? And is a meritocracy perhaps more viciously inegalitarian than class based oligarchies?
Some items to peruse:
- Flaws in the Meritocracy.
- The Meritocracy Party.
- Wikipedia: Meritocracy.
- The Meritocracy Myth.
- Opinion: It's Time to Bring Back the Estate Tax.
