Michael Young coined the term 'meritocracy' in a satirical tale called The Rise of the Meritocracy 1870-2033 (Young, 1958). This satire was intended to inspire reflection upon the folly of meritocratic life.

Where did the term meritocracy come from?

Although the concept of meritocracy has existed for centuries, the term itself was coined in 1958 by the sociologist Michael Dunlop Young in his dystopian political and satirical book The Rise of the Meritocracy.

What is the meaning of the term meritocracy?

: a system, organization, or society in which people are chosen and moved into positions of success, power, and influence on the basis of their demonstrated abilities and merit (see merit entry 1 sense 1b) Only the elite, in that new meritocracy, would enjoy the opportunity for self-fulfillment …—

What is a meritocracy based on?

noun, plural mer·i·toc·ra·cies. an elite group of people whose progress is based on ability and talent rather than on class, privilege or wealth. a system in which such persons are rewarded and advanced: The dean believes the educational system should be a meritocracy.

What sociologists talk about meritocracy?

3.1.

Analysis of the meritocracy research revealed that the term “meritocracy” was first used in the book “The Rise of the Meritocracy,” written by British sociologist Michael Young in 1958.

What is the meaning of the word MERITOCRATIC?

44 related questions found

What are examples of meritocracy?

For example, a firm with the highest IQ employees might fall down in areas such as innovation, design and sales that require diverse talents that aren't captured by an IQ test. Having people who think very differently may be conductive to creativity.

What is wrong with meritocracy?

Markovits argues that meritocracy itself is the problem: It produces radical inequality, stifles social mobility, and makes everyone — including the apparent winners — miserable. These are not symptoms of systemic malfunction; they are the products of a system that is working exactly as it is supposed to.

Is capitalism a meritocracy?

It has been argued that meritocracy under capitalism will always remain a myth because, as Michael Kinsley states, "Inequalities of income, wealth, status are inevitable, and in a capitalist system even necessary." Even though many economists admit that too much disparity between the rich and the poor can destabilize ...

Was Rome a meritocracy?

Roman citizens were from different cultures, different races and different religions. Meritocracy based on individual talents and adherence to the Principles of the Res Publica was at the core of the Empire, especially under the rule of Trajan. Although such Meritocracy, Rome could not resist the vicious evil of greed…

Is the military a meritocracy?

In other words, the concept of the Army as a meritocracy is a myth. ... In other words, the concept of the Army as a meritocracy is a myth. Increasing diversity in combat arms branches is necessary because those occupational fields, especially infantry, enjoy significantly higher promotion rates.

Is meritocracy an ideology?

In a psychological sense, Meritocracy beliefs constitute a worldview, or ideology, that broadly embraces the idea that equal opportunities exist, allowing upward social mobility (Feldman, 1983; Hochschild, 1996) in a way that individuals can change their economic and social circumstances (Taylor and Moghaddam, 1994).

What did Davis and Moore say about education?

Davis and Moore examined role allocation. They believe that education selects talented individuals and allocates them to the most important roles in society. Higher rewards for jobs such as GP's and pilots encourages competition. Davis and Moore believe that education sifts and sorts according to ability.

What is the opposite of a meritocracy?

The opposite of meritocracy is kakistocracy, or the rule of the worst.

What is a technocratic society?

In more practical use, technocracy is any portion of a bureaucracy that is run by technologists. A government in which elected officials appoint experts and professionals to administer individual government functions and recommend legislation can be considered technocratic.

Do Marxists believe in meritocracy?

Marx also believed in the myth of meritocracy in that people are led to believe that we achieve according to merit in society. ... Marxists do not believe that society is based on a value consensus and operates to benefit all.

Why do Bowles and Gintis argue that meritocracy is a myth?

They argue that IQ accounts for only a small part of educational attainment. ... The education system effectively disguises the fact that economic success runs in the family, and that privilege breeds privilege. Bowles and Gintis thus reject the functionalist view that education is a meritocracy.

Who is Bowles gintis?

Economists and social theorists Sam Bowles and Herb Gintis develop their 'correspondence' theory of the connections between education and social inequality. ... The educational system helps integrate youth into the economic system … through a structural correspondence between its social relations and those of production.

How is meritocracy damaging our economy?

According to Markovits, the post-WWII reinvention of American meritocracy has cost the middle class economic mobility. ... This, Markovits argues, has lead to stagnation, loss of income, and feelings of marginalization among the middle class.

Who believed the education system is meritocratic?

Functionalists Davis and Moore state that we live in a meritocratic society as the education system acts as a mechanism to ensure individuals do the right jobs (see role allocation). Therefore, individuals that work hard will be rewarded in society, whilst those who do not will not be rewarded.

What is hereditary meritocracy?

Mr Menon also warned about the risk of hereditary meritocracy, which is when society's elites reproduce themselves and parents naturally pass on their privileges — be it in education, income or wealth — to their children. ... Those who inherit advantages from their parents run counter to meritocracy, he pointed out.

How do you get meritocracy?

In a meritocracy, everyone has the right to express their opinions and are encouraged to share them openly and often. Those opinions are listened to and decisions are then made based on those that are deemed the best. It's important to understand that a meritocracy is not a democracy.

What is the significance of meritocracy?

Meritocracy is a social system in which success and status in life depend primarily on individual talents, abilities, and effort. ... Social scientists often refer to this as the "bootstrap ideology," evoking the popular notion of "pulling" oneself "up by the bootstraps."

Is Britain a meritocratic society sociology?

Nowadays most developed societies consider themselves to be meritocratic, as they believe that there are equal opportunities to succeed in life for everyone who has talent and works hard. ... Britain in this sense is not an exception, and it is a meritocratic society.