The Rise of the Meritocracy: The Genealogy of an Idea

As one of the most distinctive books in scholarly publishing, The Rise of the Meritocracy by Michael Young is considered not only a classic work in the sociology of education but one of the most intriguing books ever published. Well over half a century since it first appeared, this book continues to exert an important influence in both academia and public life (as well as high politics). Despite a number of journal special issues, symposia, edited volumes, and biographies, The Rise of the Meritocracy remains to a large extent a “riddle wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma” (just like its author). This chapter revisits some of the defining elements of this thought-provoking book as well as some of the touchstone moments from the life and career of Michael Young. The introductory section sketches some of the main points, while the central part takes a closer look at some of the issues raised in The Rise of the Meritocracy and by its author that have remained largely below the radar of academic scholarship. The following section analyzes the three main scenarios advanced by the contemporary reception of the book. The concluding section identifies some of the distinguishing features of the idea of “meritocratic rationality” as elaborated in The Rise of the Meritocracy, with equality of opportunity as its flagship representation.