There is no doubt that Britain is putting in extra effort to prioritize talent and competence, rather than wealth or social connections.
In 1774, Thomas Paine made a momentous
decision to depart from his native Britain and set sail for America, where he
would embark on a radical path as a pamphleteer and fervent advocate for
revolution. Two years later, in his influential work "Common Sense,"
Paine articulated the rationale behind his emigration. He decried the British
system as inherently flawed, built upon the divisive and unfair principles of
hereditary privilege, which he likened to a legacy of theft dating back to the
days of William the Conqueror. This system perpetuated the absurd notion of
granting positions and opportunities based solely on one's lineage. Paine
eloquently contended that in Britain, the so-called "artificial
noble" paled in comparison to the true nobility of nature. In contrast, he
saw America as a land animated by the ennobling principle of meritocracy.
Paine's argument resonated deeply within the
annals of British thought, becoming an enduring fixture throughout history.
Decades later, in 1941, George Orwell lamented that England remained a nation
steeped in class divisions and privilege, describing it as a "land of
snobbery and privilege." Even in William Golding's 1980 novel "Rites
of Passage," a character mourns that "Class is the British
language." The British consistently looked across the Atlantic to America
as a beacon of opportunity unburdened by the shackles of parentage-based
hierarchies and even the nuances of language, as exemplified by the
pronunciation of the letter "h." In the 1830s and 1840s, Chartists
sang "Yankee Doodle" and proudly waved the American flag as a symbol
of their aspirations. The desire to emulate the American model persisted into
the 1960s and 1970s, with figures like Tony Crosland and Shirley Williams
advocating for reforms to make Britain more closely resemble the land of
opportunity. The transatlantic migrations of notable British individuals also
revealed a pattern, with figures like Henry James and T.S. Eliot adopting a
more elitist perspective while those like W.H. Auden and Christopher Hitchens
found themselves drawn to the radical ideals of America.
In plain terms, Thomas Paine's decision to leave Britain for
America in 1774 marked the beginning of a transformative journey that ignited a
profound debate about class, privilege, and meritocracy in British society. His
assertion that Britain was a realm dominated by artificial nobility while
America championed the noble principle of meritocracy resonated throughout
history, influencing thinkers, writers, and activists across generations. This
enduring discourse on social hierarchy and opportunity would continue to shape
the British mindset, with echoes of Paine's sentiments still heard in the words
of prominent figures and the aspirations of those who sought a more equitable
and merit-based society.
Yet the supposed disparity between the
hierarchical structure of Britain and the meritocratic ethos of America has
often been overstated. While America lacks the monarchy and House of Lords of
Britain, it is not without its own dynastic families, such as the Adamses,
Kennedys, and Bushes. Although it may not possess the quintessential British
aristocratic accents, America has its own elite cliques, including the Boston
Brahmins, Proper Philadelphians, and the Southern gentry. Moreover, the United
States frequently appoints ambassadors based on their significant party
contributions rather than professional diplomacy, a practice Britain abandoned
in the mid-19th century. While Donald Trump's presidency exhibited nepotism,
with his reliance on his daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner, this
pales in comparison to the long-standing dynasties like the Bushes, Clintons,
and Kennedys.
Both Britain and America have witnessed
social mobility stagnation as the beneficiaries of the Thatcher and Reagan
revolutions consolidated their power. Nevertheless, Britain has made more
concerted efforts to rejuvenate social mobility compared to America's
complacency. This contrast may mark the beginning of a substantial shift, with
Britain becoming more meritocratic as America becomes less so.
It is worth noting that even though two
alumni of the prestigious Eton College, David Cameron and Boris Johnson,
ascended to the top of the Conservative Party, the number of Members of
Parliament (MPs) from less privileged backgrounds has been on the rise,
particularly following the Conservative Party's victories in northern
constituencies in 2019. Furthermore, the leadership of critical government
departments, including the Treasury, Foreign Office, Home Office, and
Department of Health, is now in the hands of the children of immigrants. In
professions like broadcast journalism and arguably in business, possessing an
upper-class demeanor is becoming increasingly detrimental.
One of the most striking divergences between
the two nations is observed in the realm of education, particularly in
university admissions—a gateway to the elite. A comparative analysis of Oxford
and Harvard reveals this contrast. Oxford has actively sought to attract
students from disadvantaged backgrounds, with several of its colleges
introducing a "foundation year" to prepare them for degree courses.
In 2020, 68% of Oxford's undergraduate admissions, excluding overseas students,
came from state schools, marking a significant increase from 62% in 2019 and
55% a decade ago. This trend illustrates the commitment of Oxford, and by
extension Britain, to promote greater social mobility through education,
contrasting with the ongoing challenges faced by American institutions in
achieving similar goals.
The advancement of meritocracy has been
bolstered by educational reforms initiated in the 2000s by Labor governments
and subsequently continued by the Tories since 2010. These reforms sought to
establish high-quality educational institutions in inner cities, thereby
providing students with access to top-notch education. One notable example of
such a school is Brampton Academy in Newham, a financially disadvantaged
borough in London, which primarily enrolls students from diverse ethnic
backgrounds. In the previous year, Brampton Academy secured 55 admissions to
Oxford and Cambridge, surpassing even Eton's 48. Its sixth form adopts a highly
selective approach and offers rigorous coaching to prepare students for the
demanding entrance exams required by these prestigious universities.
In contrast, elite American universities like
Harvard practice a form of plutocracy that is slightly tempered by affirmative
action policies, primarily aimed at African-American applicants and, to a
lesser extent, Hispanic applicants. The objective of these policies is to
redress the historical injustices stemming from slavery and to identify and
reward merit that may have previously gone unnoticed. However, this commendable
goal is hindered by a near-willful disregard for socio-economic disadvantage,
which often transcends racial boundaries. Harvard's admissions practices reveal
a preference for students from the wealthiest 1% of society over those from the
poorest 60%, while giving preferential treatment to "legacy"
applicants (relatives of faculty and alumni), star athletes, and individuals on
the "dean's list," which curiously seems to include offspring of
politicians, celebrities, and generous donors. The use of "holistic assessment"
in evaluating candidates tends to favor those who can list extravagant
international trips designed to assist underprivileged communities and those
with impressive letters of recommendation from influential figures. Research by
Peter Arcidiacono at Duke University demonstrates that, if subjected to
standard evaluation procedures, approximately three-quarters of successful
white applicants in these favored categories would likely have faced rejection.
The stark contrast between Brampton Academy's
approach to meritocracy and Harvard's admissions practices highlights the
divergent paths taken by educational institutions in different countries. While
the UK strives to create opportunities for talented individuals from
disadvantaged backgrounds, the US continues to grapple with deeply entrenched
preferences that perpetuate social and economic inequality, even within the
realm of higher education. This divergence reflects broader societal challenges
and disparities that each nation faces in their pursuit of a more equitable and
meritocratic future.
Meritocracy Contrasts
Instead of establishing institutions akin to
Brampton Academy with the aim of widening access to elite universities like
Harvard, American policymakers are currently dismantling prestigious public
schools. Examples include Boston Latin School in Boston and Lowell High School
in San Francisco, both of which have a strong track record of sending their
students to Ivy League institutions. These schools are being compelled to
eliminate entrance examinations and instead admit students through a lottery
system, a shift that is likely to undermine their tradition of academic
excellence.
This disparity in approaches underscores a
fundamental contrast in the way the two nations address the issue of
meritocracy and privilege. In the United States, there exists a deeply
ingrained belief in the nation's meritocratic ethos, which paradoxically allows
for flagrant acts of anti-meritocratic behavior. This incongruity is
exemplified by the dismantling of elite public schools that have been
historically gateways to success for talented students. In contrast, Britain's
deep-seated anxiety about class distinctions has made the country exceptionally
attuned to the presence of unearned privilege. This heightened sensitivity to
privilege stands in contrast to America's often unquestioning embrace of privilege
in the name of meritocracy. While Britain's historical anxiety about class has
sometimes led to self-doubt and inaction, it now appears to be yielding
positive results, as the nation strives to address issues of social mobility
and access to opportunity.
The divergent paths taken by the United
States and Britain in response to issues of meritocracy and privilege reflect
broader societal attitudes and policy decisions. These differences also raise
important questions about the future of education and social mobility in both
countries and the extent to which they can effectively address the challenges
posed by inequality and unearned privilege.
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