Michael Young has christened the oligarchy of the future âMeritocracy.â Indeed, the word is now part of the English language. It would appear that the formula: IQ+Effort=Merit may well constitute the basic belief of the ruling class in the twenty-first century. Projecting himself into the year 2034, the author of this sociological satire shows how present decisions and practices may remold our society. It is widespread knowledge that it is insufficient to be somebody's nephew to obtain a responsible post in business, government, teaching, or science. Experts in education and selection apply scientific principles to sift out the leaders of tomorrow. You need intelligence rating, qualification, experience, application, and a certain caliber to achieve status. In a word, one must show merit to advance in the new society of tomorrow. In a new opening essay, Young reflects on the reception of his work, and its production, in a candid and lively way. Many of the critical ambiguities surrounding its original publication are now clarified and resolved. What we have is what the Guardian of London called âA brilliant essay.â and what Time and Tide described as âa fountain gush of new ideas. Its wit and style make it compulsively enjoyable reading from cover to cover.â "Has the thrill of immediate relevance. . .its thinking is consistently rich and fascinating. Young is onto a big theme, involving fundamental questions about social organization and individual dignity. What drives the book is Young's having identified one of the fundamental paradoxes of what we would call liberalism and the British would call socialism: the liberal dream of equal opportunity." --Nicholas Lemann, The Atlantic Monthly
Michael Young has been involved in such initiatives as the Consumers' Association and the Open University. This is a collection of essays presented to Young on his 80th birthday. The contributors such as Asa Briggs reflect on the range and influence of Young's work.
First published in 1973, The Symmetrical Family combines evidence about the family of the past with information from a sociological survey in the London region and uses both as the basis for a speculative discussion about the future. The argument is that a new style of family life has emerged. Its basis is not equality between husbands and wives but at least something approaching symmetry: increasingly wives work outside the home and husbands inside it. The new family is itself under increasing pressure. Contrary to the popular view, there is yet no sign of a general increase in leisure. In some occupations work is dominant and becoming more so; at the same time the proportions of people in such jobs, though still in the minority, are expanding. The growing demand of wives for paid work outside the home means that in place of two jobs, one for the husband and one for the wife, there will often be four, with both working inside as well as outside the home. How long will people be able to bear the consequent strain? In a final chapter the authors discuss what they think will happen unless people decide quite deliberately, to reduce the pressure upon themselves and their children. This book will be of interest to students of sociology, health, social care, anthropology and public policy.
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