Meritocracy sounds pretty good in principle, until you realize that 'merit' is usually defined by whoever happens to be in power, and thus often ends up entrenc

Meritocracy sounds pretty good in principle, until you realize that 'merit' is usually defined by whoever happens to be in power, and thus often ends up entrenching and perpetuating existing power structures. It is convenient to be thought of as having attained your position by merit, and also to be able to define the criteria by which others must seek to displace or succeed you.