The Myth of Meritocracy

Society is becoming more divided because wealthy and powerful figures are promoting the notion of a meritocracy while failing to address inequality, according to a new book by Dr. Jo Littler, a sociologist at City, University of London. Against Meritocracy argues meritocracy is the key cultural means of legitimation for contemporary neoliberal culture – and that while it promises opportunity, it, in fact, creates new forms of social division.

 People in Britain, as in a wide range of countries from the US to Singapore, are being told that they live in a meritocracy – a 'fair' society in which citizens can achieve anything with enough hard work, regardless of their social position at birth. However, she argues this is a myth because many people are increasingly disadvantaged in various ways, often by their gender and ethnicity, as well as their levels of financial wealth.

The book, Against Meritocracy: Culture, power and myths of mobility, traces the history of the idea of meritocracy and uses case studies from Dr. Littler's own research to show how popular culture and advertising are being used to support the notion. She said: "My research shows the meritocracy is an inescapable part of our culture. It's all around us, not just in the political world, but in media, education and in stories told about work. It contains a grain of truth and a whole heap of mystification."

Dr. Littler says the rise in the promotion of meritocracy has come with the rise of neoliberalism – the political theory that suggests society works best if people are encouraged to take individual responsibility and public services are privatised. "The book argues that under neoliberalism, the idea of meritocracy has been marketised and used as an ideological weapon by a wealthy elite," she said. "People are encouraged to internalise the idea that if they fail to climb the ladder, it is their own fault, at the same time as the chances of being able to climb it are falling on a daily basis," she said.