Political scientist Mark Bovens and public administration expert Anchrit Wille wrote a book titled Diplomademocratie (Diploma democracy). Bovens tells science reporter Sjoerd de Jong in the Dutch newspaper NRC:

‘In Western societies, a new cleavage has emerged, as it is called in the political science literature; a separation that is strongly linked to education and that has now acquired social, geographical, and political dimensions.’

Wille adds: ‘This also includes the clustering of university graduates in residential areas, marriage within the same group, and a shared choice of school. These are all similarities with the pillarization of the past.’

But can we imagine a truly homogenous society without any kind of pillarization? I can’t.

Less meritocracy, say Bovens and Wille.

Remember the American philosopher Michael Sandel and his crusade against meritocracy?

Meritocracy may not be just. But what is just?

More millionaires? Or less millionaires?

(a sf 2044)