CFP: Workshop for The Journal of Ethics Special Issue on Meritocracy

DESCRIPTION:

Meritocratic ideals have played a central role in shaping educational systems, labor markets and public narratives about fairness and social mobility in modern societies (Bell 2015; Kett 2013; Khanna & Szoni 2022; Mulligan 2018, 2022; Wooldridge 2021).

However, meritocracy has been criticized extensively in recent years (Littler 2018; Markovits 2019; Sandel 2020; Thomas, Archer & Engelen 2024). These critiques are part of a long tradition, spanning educational theory, moral theory, political philosophy, and sociology (Arendt 1961; Fox 1956; Guinier 2015; Napoletano 2024; Rawls 1999; Sen 2000; Young 1958, 2001). The word ‘meritocracy’ itself was, in fact, coined by Michael Young in his dystopian novel The Rise of Meritocracy (1958). In it, people revolt against social stratification based on innate talents. Young’s account has become a reference point for critics of meritocracy.

However, meritocracy is a notoriously slippery concept. As the economist and philosopher Amartya Sen once quipped: “[t]he idea of meritocracy may have many virtues, but clarity is not one of them” (2000, 5). This lack of conceptual clarity complicates both normative assessment and institutional evaluation, often leading critics and defenders to talk past one another. It may be the case that not all possible notions of meritocracy are vulnerable to the same objections (Daniels 1978; Miller 1996; Mulligan 2018).

The purpose of this special issue is to provide a philosophical examination of meritocracy in light of recent critiques. Possible topics include, but are not limited to:

• What exactly is a meritocracy? Is it a normative principle of justice, an ideology that legitimizes inequality, or something hovering between the two?

• What is the relation between meritocracy and equality of opportunity? And what is the relationship between meritocracy and responsibility?

• What is the distribuendum of meritocracy? Is meritocracy necessarily about the distribution of social positions and income? Or is it limited to the distribution of social positions?

• What is the appropriate base of merit claims? Is it talent and effort, as Young claimed? Or is it another base, such as productive contribution, social contribution, or again something else?

• What is the normative ground of merit claims? Are they grounded in people’s appreciative attitudes, for instance? Or are they perhaps a special type of requirement?

• What is the connection between meritocracy and the market?

• What is the connection between meritocracy and related concepts, such as desert and efficiency? How should these concepts be distinguished and/or integrated within a broader theory of justice?

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS:

- Gloria Mähringer (Ludwig Maximilian University)

- David Miller (Oxford University)

- Thomas Mulligan (Georgetown University and RAND Corporation)

- Huub Brouwer (Tilburg University) and Jahel Queralt (Universitat Pompeu Fabra)

PROCEDURE:

Papers are recruited through a call for abstracts for a pre-read workshop at Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), in Barcelona, on 12-13 November 2026. The workshop is designed to facilitate in-depth discussion of draft papers and to foster constructive feedback among contributors. All papers presented at the workshop will be considered for inclusion in the special issue.

The organization of the workshop associated with the Special Issue is supported by funding from an ICREA Academia grant awarded to Jahel Queralt. Travel and accommodation costs for workshop participants will be covered by the workshop organizers.

Abstracts for the workshop should address the special issue theme and consist of an abstract 750-1.000 words in length (citations not counted). These extended abstracts are intended to allow authors to clearly articulate their central argument, methodology, and contribution to the existing literature. All submissions should be prepared for blind review. Abstracts should be submitted to [email protected] by 31 March 2026.

TIMELINE:

Authors of accepted abstracts will need to adhere to the following timeline for the full development of the paper:

• All contributors will participate in-person in a special issue workshop on 12-13 November 2026, with a draft paper.

• The workshop will be held at UPF (Barcelona).

• Draft papers are due by 31 October 2026 (8.000 – 11.000 words).

• Revised papers have to be submitted to The Journal of Ethics by 28 February 2027.

• All papers will then undergo the journal’s peer review process that must be concluded by the end of 2027. The special issue will be published in 2028.

EDITORIAL PROCESS:

All submissions will go through the standard review procedure of The Journal of Ethics (publication only on the basis of an editorial decision based on at least two double blind reviews). Final acceptance is contingent upon successful completion of the journal’s peer review process. At that time, all manuscripts should be prepared according to the journal’s guidelines provided on The Journal of Ethics website.

The Special Issue will follow all Springer Journal Policies, including Peer Review Policy, Process and Guidance and peer review selection policy.

Participants will be informed that the journal offers the option to publish Open Access and that they are allowed to publish open access through Open Choice.

CONTACT:

For more information and questions, please contact the Editors at [email protected] and [email protected]