In Against Meritocracy, Jo Littler critically examines the contemporary ideal of meritocracy, arguing that it serves as the key cultural means of legitimation for neoliberalism. While promising opportunity and social mobility through talent and effort, Littler reveals how this pervasive social trope in fact generates new forms of social division and inequality.

Why You Should Read?

• Explore the historical evolution of meritocracy, tracing its shift from a critical socialist concept to a widely accepted societal ideal.
• Analyze diverse case studies, from reality TV and celebrity CEOs to social media trends, to understand meritocracy's profound cultural influence.
• Gain insights into how meritocracy intersects with and impacts issues of gender, 'race', and class in modern society.
• Develop new conceptual frameworks for understanding social stratification and the myth of individual ascent in contemporary culture.