A critical discussion of Daniel A. Bell's political meritocracy

Abstract

"Meritocracy" is among the political phenomena and political orientations found in modern Western democratic systems. Daniel A. Bell, however, imposes it on ancient Confucianism and contemporary China and refers to it in Chinese using loaded terms such as xianneng zhengzhi and shangxian zhi . Bell's "political meritocracy" not only consists of an anti-democratic political program but also is full of logical contradictions: At times, it is the antithesis of democracy, and, at other times, it is a supplement to democracy; sometimes it resolutely rejects democracy, and sometimes it desperately needs democratic mechanisms as the ultimate guarantee of its legitimacy. Bell's criticism of democracy consists of untenable platitudes, and his defense of "political meritocracy" comprises a series of specious arguments. Ultimately, the main issue with "political meritocracy" is its blatant negation of popular sovereignty as well as the fact that it inherently represents a road leading directly to totalitarianism.