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

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

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#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.

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Release date

Ebook: 24 March 2022