Top 10 things to watch out on path to merit

A governance structure must guard against some pitfalls if it hopes to successfully implement its goals. Human nature is complex, and both simplistic and overly complex solutions can be exploited and subverted. However, with some safeguards it is possible to achieve and sustain progress. Any architect of meritocracy should keep the following in mind to ensure that meritocracy is sustainable:

1. Transparency is paramount for merit to flourish

For most public related issues, the information should be made available online and the processes need to be made transparent. Without transparency conspiracy theories take hold more easily, and people can come to believe that the meritocracy is not genuine. This can be onerous  and difficult without use of technology.

2. Equality of opportunity will sustain meritocracy

The system should be perceived as fair by people. Without equality of opportunity, meritocracy will degenerate into aristocracy, which will defeat the whole purpose of having a meritocracy.  

3. Too much inequality will destroy the social fabric

Inequality is inevitable. However, if 90% of the population is starving and underfed, then there is something seriously wrong with the governance structure. Meritocracy and a strong nation need wider participation of the population in the economy, which can be jeopardised by poverty. They can also become easy targets for communists and theological preachers, both of which can be a serious danger to the integrity of a country.

4. Too much power in too few hands will destroy the country 

Parallel institutions, sometimes even duplicate institutions can be critical to prevent abuse of power. Checks and balances, backed by a strong constitution can do wonders for a nation (even if it can be a bit chaotic).

5.  Right to accuse needs to be protected, but right to slander needs to be checked

It is important for citizens to be able to accuse and argue to forward their point of view. This would strengthen meritocracy and help weed out unwanted elements. However, slander and malicious propaganda can be used to damage reputation, cause needless fear and disgust in population, and weaken the social fabric. The law has to find a balance between encouraging criticism and preventing calumny. 

6. Rights should not come without responsibilities

In a meritocratic state, all rights (including human rights and voting rights) would need to come with a responsibility.

7. Avoid direct confrontation with religion, but side-line and weaken it

People should be free to follow their religious belief, but nation needs to take the front-seat. This would mean peaceful co-existence, complete stop on missionary activities, and a uniform civil code applicable to all. 

8. Nationalism with spirituality will hold meritocracy together

Every ideology needs a glue to hold it together. For meritocracy, nationalism can be an excellent binder. However, to prevent wars and rise of any kind of supremacists, it would need to incorporate certain degree of spirituality as well. I am open to idea, but in experience meditation and breathing techniques are a good, neutral starting point.

9. Do not expect status quo to roll-over and die

If only it was that simple. Do not underestimate the tenacity of vested interests and the dangers of a revolution. Without political power and a police/army firmly under civilian control, the changes will not be permanent. Managing media and a comprehensive communication strategy will be as critical as doing actual work.

10. Results Results Results

Theory and intention is all well, but if there are no concrete, actual results, the whole thing is meaningless and is probably being done wrong.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but my top 10 nuggets of wisdom to the one who wants to walk the path. May the force be with you ;)

Starting on the Quest for Meritocracy

The implementation of a meritocratic state can begin with a leader supported by a group of individuals with the determination and the ability to implement a meritocratic state. The whole group would need an above average IQ, reasonable success in private life, nationalism, strong control on emotions, spirituality, ability to deal with own ego, and a reasonably good understanding of human nature. A little power hunger will not harm. It would help having experts (e.g. economics, technology, political science, marketing), leaders with practical work experience in their fields. 

While it is always ideal to have things from the "scratch", I am not an advocate of revolution as it is messy. Reform from within will be better for the society as a whole, but may be more difficult to implement due to entrenched vested interests of existing power centres. Nevertheless it is doable if done slowly but surely (boil the frog). Also, since human life is short, it is advisable to focus on the issues that are likely to have maximum impact and leave something for the next generation.

The ultimate aim would be political/legal/constitutional changes that institutionalise meritocracy. This is the only way to make meritocracy permanent. Economy and education are the primary tools to both work towards it and strengthen it.  However, before that can happen, to first gain traction the team needs to first work at the grass root level. 

This can begin with identify and solving key local problems, and then marketing the success. Consider the following two steps to identify problems to solve:

1. Zero down on a few key issues likely to lead to positive press for meritocracy (4 at most)
Meritocracy is not an established system. To start with, it needs to be in the press and recognised for its excellent results. In the beginning, it is advisable to focus on issues that are easy to market, popular, and doable. This is about picking battles big enough to matter and small enough to win, and important for at least 25% of the population. Surveys and reports, backed by information gained by working amidst people, should help in this. 

2. Analyse the identified issues and zero down on one to target
Consider team resources and expertise, ask for public opinion to identify pain points and possible improvements, analyse short-comings of current system, and prepare a plan of action.

In the beginning, it is advisable to not upset any existing power centres as far as possible. Ultimately they are going to get upset, but the later we upset them the lesser obstacles we would face in implementing our plans. 

In initial years, the aim should be to cultivate image of efficiency, integrity, and no-nonsense to demonstrate the capability of meritocracy. For this the team will have to both do the work and communicate it effectively to people. Get youth involved, use street plays, harness social media, conduct seminars/ talks, organise public/visible debates, create sponsorships for the best and the brightest. In short, get the word out there and back it up with actual, tangible results.

The ultimate aim is to enter the political sphere and change the way things are run. Therefore the core team would need to develop grass root level of cadres and work intensively amidst people: travelling, listening to their problems and aspirations, where possible helping them with their issues, vociferously highlighting identified public problems, and learning about the society. To begin with, for minimum resistance, the team should target an area that is:

• reasonably prosperous and eager to boost its economic dominance; or 
• sufficiently economically desperate and eager to turn-around its fortune. 

The areas with following characteristics could be very challenging and are best tackled at later stages:

• strong religious or caste based influence
• severely affected by militant/terrorist activity
• strong influence of Communism

The group should also create a fund-raising plan and involve industrialists in their plans to ensure adequate financing.

These key steps should help the team to lay down the foundation for a meritocracy. 

Why We Need Meritocracy

It is useless to expect an oak tree to bear apples. Similarly, it is useless to expect governance systems designed to exploit and steal to deliver justice. Even though the world has evolved significantly, it is hard to find genuinely good leaders and 90% of the population is still languishing in poverty. I therefore think that the current governance systems have overall failed miserably to alleviate misery. The key reasons  are affliction with narrow interests, short-termism, mob mentality, and the concept of rights without responsibilities. The systems are well designed to pacify power groups and keep a few in charge of many. They are designed to enslave and not liberate, even if they claim otherwise.

Therefore it is very important for the thinkers and the doers to come together and work towards building a society that is governed by three basic principles:

• always try to get one of the best people to do the job
• rights come with responsibilities
• it is not enough to theoretically endorse the above two principles: they have to be purposefully built into the very fabric of the nation

This, in essence, is meritocracy. And this, in essence, can be a extremely difficult to implement in practice. Even profit oriented corporations often find it difficult to stick to this simple mantra. For a nation it can be devilishly difficult.Nevertheless, it stands to reason that even partial implementation of these ideas should change the fortunes of a country for the better.

In future essays I will try to explore how I think a leader can implement it.

The Time for Merit

From the time human society has started organising itself, it's surroundings, intelligence, and knowledge level have had a profound effect on its governance structures. Through the ages we have seen various versions of rule of a man/ family (despotism, monarchy, aristocracy), rule of God (theocracy), rule of men (democracy, republic, socialism, communism, nationalism), rule of money (capitalism), and even no rule (anarchy). 

The first radical change  came via the advent of the printing press and the corresponding realtively wider availability of knowledge. This steadily eroded ideologies that rely on people's ignorance, and strengthened those that either empower or manipulate them. This ultimately led to the decline of theocracies and monarchies, and the rise of democracies, socialism, propoganda fuelled dictatorships, and capitalism. When combined with older forms of governance, this has produced a wide range of governance structures around the globe.

The knowledge that came with the printed word did not get rid the human race of thirst for power, control, and pseudo-superiority. In fact, it made the quest more sophisticated and destructive. As rulers adjusted to the shock of more informed and combatative subjects, they tweaked their tools of propaganda, terror and division. The same knowledge that developed  life saving drugs also came up with nuclear weapons. Promises of communist utopia often turned out to be despotic hells.

Nevertheless, democracy has slowly become the most common form of governance, and ideas of capitalism and socialism have both become deeply embedded in the system. However, the rise of the Internet, satellites and the ability of the rulers to track their "subjects" closely is changing things in a way that may see revival of totalitarian regimes, with even the current "free" democracies slowly eroding away the freedom of their citizens using propaganda, fear, monetary control, and intimidation.

Having said that, I think that these same technical advancements present an opportunity to build a strong, transparent, and meritocratic country. The happiness and prosperity of nations will be determined by their ability to command an effective economy, to generate superior scientific knowledge, and being militarily strong. This in turn would depend on having better people in top positions, which perhaps can be done more effectively in an inherent meritocratic system. I find the thought pretty appealing, and will write about it as and when I get time in form of similar articles. I hope somebody, somewhere, someday finds it useful and interesting.