The Meritocratic Dystopia and the Communitarian Utopia of Michael Sandel

The text is a critical analysis of Michael Sandel's book The Tyranny of Merit on the basis of the conceptual pair dystopia/utopia. The first section describes the three elements that constitute the meritocratic dystopia which became a reality in our times, according to Sandel. In the second section the two alternatives that Sandel opposes to meritocracy are described: the neoliberal, and the egalitarian liberal one; and the socialist alternative is added. Then, the constructive aspects of his book are described. Finally, some criticisms of the Sandelian proposal are highlighted, especially some aspects that seem arbitrary.