meritocracies
Talent-rewarded social systems
Meritocracies is the plural of meritocracy, a system in which advancement depends on ability and achievement rather than wealth, connections, or birth.
The term often carries ironic weight—those who invoke it may be defending advantages they believe they earned: Silicon Valley loves to call itself a meritocracy.
Critics argue that supposed meritocracies perpetuate existing inequalities by ignoring unequal starting points.
Just and equal treatment
- opportunityFavorable circumstance for advancement
- talentInborn aptitude
- effortApplied energy toward goals
- achievementAccomplished goal or deed
equality · mobility · aspiration · American Dream · self-made · bootstrap · potential · ability
Unequal distribution of resources
- privilegeExclusive right or benefit
- mythTraditional explanatory tale
- illusionMisleading sensory impression
- stratificationDivision into distinct levels
class · nepotism · elitism · gatekeeping · credentialism · exclusion · mobility · fairness
Entry or confession
- testingExamining to evaluate
- standardizedMade uniform across cases
- SATCollege admissions exam
- examinationMethodical assessment or review
grades · tracking · gifted · selective · university · scholarship · ranking · achievement
Rank increase or publicity
- performanceCarrying out a task
- advancementForward movement or promotion
- talentInborn aptitude
- achievementAccomplished goal or deed
evaluation · compensation · bonus · ranking · assessment · productivity · reward · recognition
Superior select group
- technocracyGovernance by technical experts
- leadershipAbility to direct others
- administrationOrganizational oversight and control
- bureaucracyRigid administrative system
civil service · mandarins · selection · appointment · qualification · credential · competence · promotion
fairness
Just and equal treatment
- opportunityFavorable circumstance for advancement
- talentInborn aptitude
- effortApplied energy toward goals
achievement · equality · mobility · aspiration · American Dream · self-made · bootstrap · potential · ability · hard work
inequality
Unequal distribution of resources
- privilegeExclusive right or benefit
- mythTraditional explanatory tale
- illusionMisleading sensory impression
stratification · class · nepotism · elitism · gatekeeping · credentialism · exclusion · mobility · fairness · bootstrap
admission
Entry or confession
- testingExamining to evaluate
- standardizedMade uniform across cases
- SATCollege admissions exam
examination · grades · tracking · gifted · selective · university · scholarship · ranking · achievement · competition
promotion
Rank increase or publicity
- performanceCarrying out a task
- advancementForward movement or promotion
- talentInborn aptitude
achievement · evaluation · compensation · bonus · ranking · assessment · productivity · reward · recognition · competition
elite
Superior select group
- technocracyGovernance by technical experts
- leadershipAbility to direct others
- administrationOrganizational oversight and control
bureaucracy · civil service · mandarins · selection · appointment · qualification · credential · competence · promotion · hierarchy
meritocraciesaristocracies
Rule by hereditary elites
nepotism · plutocracies · caste systems · oligarchies · cronyism
meritocraciesaristocracies
Rule by hereditary elites
monarchies · hereditary rule · plutocracies · oligarchies · autocracies
meritocraciesegalitarianism
Philosophy of universal equality
socialism · communism · lottery systems · random selection · leveling
merit, demerit, meritorious, demerits, meritocracy, meritocratic, meritocrat, meritocrats, meritoriously