Summary of Michael J. Sandel's The Tyranny of Merit

By IRB Media

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book.

Book Preview:

#1 The rise of populism and xenophobia is a danger to democracy, and it is up to the mainstream parties to understand and address these grievances.

#2 The first diagnosis is that populist anger is a backlash against growing racial, ethnic, and gender diversity. The second is that it is a result of the rapid pace of change in an age of globalization and technology. But in reality, it is the result of a political failure.

#3 The technocratic conception of politics is tied to a faith in markets, which has led to growing inequality and a devaluing of national identities. Meanwhile, the technocratic approach to governance has narrowed the scope of democratic argument and produced a growing sense of disempowerment.

#4 During Obama's presidency, he showed that progressive politics could speak a language of moral and spiritual purpose. But after his presidency, the Democratic Party seemed to lose its moral compass, and its policies towards Wall Street did not address the public anger towards them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IRB Media
• Release date: Mar 24, 2022
• ISBN: 9781669369936

IRB Media

With IRB books, you can get the key takeaways and analysis of a book in 15 minutes. We read every chapter, identify the key takeaways and analyze them for your convenience.

Book preview

Insights on Michael J. Sandel's The Tyranny of Merit

Contents

Insights from Chapter 1

Insights from Chapter 2

Insights from Chapter 3

Insights from Chapter 4

Insights from Chapter 5

Insights from Chapter 6

Insights from Chapter 7

Insights from Chapter 1

#1

The rise of populism and xenophobia is a danger to democracy, and it is up to the mainstream parties to understand and address these grievances.

#2

The first diagnosis is that populist anger is a backlash against growing racial, ethnic, and gender diversity. The second is that it is a result of the rapid pace of change in an age of globalization and technology. But in reality, it is the result of a political failure.

#3

The technocratic conception of politics is tied to a faith in markets, which has led to growing inequality and a devaluing of national identities. Meanwhile, the technocratic approach to governance has narrowed the scope of democratic argument and produced a growing sense of disempowerment.

#4

During Obama's presidency, he showed that progressive politics could speak a language of moral and spiritual purpose. But after his presidency, the Democratic Party seemed to lose its moral compass, and its policies towards Wall Street did not address the public anger towards them.

#5

The American dream of rising up from poverty to wealth is not happening for many people. It is becoming more and more difficult to rise in America, and the countries with the highest mobility tend to have the greatest equality.

#6

The explosion of inequality in recent decades has not quickened upward mobility, but has enabled those on top to consolidate their advantages and pass them on to their children.

#7

The problem with meritocracy is not only that it falls short of the ideal, but also that it promotes the morally unattractive attitudes of hubris among the winners and resentment among the losers.

#8

The politics of humiliation differs from the politics of injustice in that it is not outwardly directed. It is resentment