Written in 1958, 'The Rise of the Meritocracy' is a satirical work that projects a future society in 2034 where the concept of meritocracy has led to a rigidly stratified society. The book argues that the formula 'IQ + effort = merit' has become the basis for social hierarchy, resulting in a significant gulf between the highly intelligent upper classes and the less intelligent lower classes. Young critiques the idea of meritocracy, highlighting its potential to create a society where the upper classes lack empathy for the lower classes and where social mobility is severely limited. The work is notable for its insightful and often humorous critique of the potential consequences of a meritocratic system.
This book presents a detailed and engaging account of the French Revolution, covering the period from the late 1770s to the death of Robespierre in 1794. Schama avoids ideological interpretations, instead focusing on a chronicle of events, anecdotes, and biographical backgrounds of key figures. The book highlights the complexities and contradictions of the Revolution, including its impact on French society, the role of various social classes, and the eventual rise of Napoleon Bonaparte. It is praised for its thoughtful, informed, and revisionist approach to this pivotal historical event[1][3][4].
In this second follow-up episode of The Announcement, I explore a crucial counterbalance to the billionaire-driven change narrative: the power of citizenship and grassroots movements in reshaping our collective future.
I'm joined by Jon Alexander, co-founder of the New Citizen Project and co-author of the increasingly influential book Citizens - a work that offers a compelling, necessary vision about who we are and how we might move forward together.
This exchange builds directly on themes discussed in my original three-part Announcement series.
While those conversations examined top-down change models driven by government, business and the philanthropic sector, Jon presents a fundamentally different vision: one where citizenship, not consumerism, takes the leading role in driving societal transformation.
In the months since my original series aired, we've witnessed the increasing tension between communities, grassroots movements and wealthy power brokers playing out across global politics.
As we all navigate these complex dynamics, Jon's perspective - that ‘to change the future, we must change the story’ - couldn't be more timely.
In this conversation, you'll gain insights into:
Jon’s view of the three dominant post-war stories - the consumer story, the subject story, and the citizen story.
Why citizenship represents a more historically accurate and hopeful vision of human potential than the consumerist tale we’re currently shackled to.
How grassroots movements can effectively counterbalance billionaire and corporate power.
What a collaborative, empathetic vision of society might actually look like in practice.
Once you've had a chance to listen, I'd love to hear your thoughts on how Jon's citizenship framework might complement or challenge the perspectives presented in previous episodes.
For bonus and behind-the-scenes material, click here.
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