Meritocracy isn’t supposed to be a defence of privilege. It is the idea that capital and power get allocated on the basis of talent, effort, and achievement rather than wealth or social class. Similarly Capitalism was historically a push back against Mercantilism. Mercantilism looked at Nations as competitive containers designed to win. The aim, it was thought, was to maximise exports and minimise imports. Sell lots. Buy little. Win. The policies led to aggressive militaries and colonial expansion. Enter Adam Smith and the idea of Win-Win. Gunboat diplomacy was the use of conspicuous naval power to use the threat of war should the “negotiation” terms not be in line with what the stronger power wants. Smith made the convincing case that trade and reduced barriers to entry benefit everyone. Similarly, with Meritocracy, we only half heartedly want it. Limited, networked, job and client opportunities mean people are still suspicious of reducing barriers to entry. Meritocracy is now used as a defence of privilege as if conspicuous gunboat signals mean the advantages are deserved. The reason people don’t want real meritocracy is because they walk around thinking they are impostors. We all worry “I am not good enough”, if a great people sorting sees our flaws.
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