Life without the ‘X’ Factor: Meritocracy Past and Present

Abstract

This article argues that ‘meritocracy’ is more than an abstract principle of justice. It is a social technology, the history of which is associated with changing configurations of power and knowledge. In its latest and perhaps most dystopian form, meritocracy has abandoned the principle of working towards perfectly administered distributions of human ability; whether talents are always rewarded or not, no longer matters. The important thing is for us to act as if they are, as we strive to achieve our potential. According to present-day meritocracy, we must learn to live sustainably within systems of hope and disappointment.