Meritocracy: A Qualified Defense
The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science
Published online on June 25, 2026
Abstract
The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Volume 717, Issue 1, Page 10-27, January 2025.
Meritocracy is best defined in terms of three connected principles—hiring by merit, equality of opportunity, and fair reward. As a social ideal, it is popular with politicians and the general public but fiercely attacked by academics as unachievable, ...
Meritocracy is best defined in terms of three connected principles—hiring by merit, equality of opportunity, and fair reward. As a social ideal, it is popular with politicians and the general public but fiercely attacked by academics as unachievable, ...