The tyranny of merit

Liberal democracies are at risk. And, according to philosopher Michael J. Sandel, the principle of merit, one of its fundamental pillars, is responsible for this situation. Accessible and profound, *The Tyranny of Merit* is a revealing analysis of the perverse injustice of our society, driven in part by a naive and shortsighted trust in the notion of merit.

We live in a constant state of competition, which divides the world into "winners" and "losers," conceals privileges and advantages, and justifies the status quo through ideas like "anything goes" and "if you can dream it, you can do it." The concrete result is a world that reinforces social inequality while simultaneously blaming individuals, generating a collective wave of anger, frustration, populism, polarization, and distrust of the government and other citizens. The public response manifests itself in events like the elections of Donald Trump in the United States in 2016 and Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil in 2018.

By analyzing concepts surrounding the ethics of study, work, success, failure, and attempt, and the means considered legitimate for pursuing these paths, Sandel suggests a new perspective on these relationships. The author highlights the contradictions of meritocratic discourse, its structural contexts, and the arrogance of "winners" who harshly judge "losers."

The tyranny of merit proposes that for a different and dignifying ethic to exist, success must be understood for the benefit of the collective. It suggests that an alternative way of thinking guided by humility, an understanding of the role of chance in human life, and the genuine creation of opportunity could, then, be the best compass for democracy and the common good.

"These are dangerous times for democracy. The danger can be seen in the rise of xenophobia and the growing public support for autocratic figures who test the limits of democratic norms. These trends alone are problematic. [...]

But it is a mistake to see only intolerance in the populist protest or to see it only as a complaint about the economy [...]. It was also a rebuke directed at the technocratic approach to politics, which is insensitive to the resentments of people who feel they have been left behind by the economy and culture."

"Sandel offers a compelling and profound critique of meritocracy, which (...) has eroded our sense of community and mutual respect (...). A thought-provoking analysis of a serious political and social problem." - Kirkus Review

"(...) In a time of facile rhetoric and thoughtless tribalism, this provocative book is a must-read for those who still care about the common good." - Preet Bharara, former New York District Attorney