Diploma democracy : the rise of political meritocracy

Description

Lay politics lies at the heart of democracy. Political offices are the only offices for which no formal qualifications are required. Contemporary political practices are diametrically opposed to this constitutional ideal. Most democracies in Western Europe are diploma democracies - ruled by those with the highest formal qualifications. Citizens with low or medium educational qualifications currently make up about 70 percent of the electorates, yet they have become virtually absent from almost all political arenas. University graduates have come to dominate all political institutions and venues, from political parties, parliaments and cabinets, to organised interests, deliberative settings, and Internet consultations. This rise of a political meritocracy is part of larger trend. In the information society, educational background, like class or religion, is an important source of social and political divides. Those who are well educated tend to be cosmopolitans, whereas the lesser educated citizens are more likely to be nationalists. This book documents the context, contours, and consequences of this rise of a political meritocracy. It explores the domination of higher educated citizens in political participation, civil society, and political office in Western Europe. It discusses the consequences of this rise of a political meritocracy, such as descriptive deficits, policy incongruences, biased standards, and cynicism and distrust. Also, it looks at ways to remedy, or at least mitigate, some of the negative effects of diploma democracy. Content: Cover Diploma Democracy: The Rise of Political Meritocracy Copyright Acknowledgements Contents List of Figures List of Tables 1: Diploma Democracy The Rise of Political Meritocracy Platoś Dream Come True Diploma Democracy Exploring the Rise of Political Meritocracy Outline: Concepts, Contours, and Consequences of Diploma Democracy Note Part I: Concepts and Contexts 2: Diplomas Meritocracy: From Science Fiction to Factual Description Meritocracy and Diplomas The Elements of Meritocracy Diplomas and Educational Stratification The Expansion of the Educational System The Increase in Educational AttainmentThe Massification of Higher Education The Increasing Diversification of `Higher ́Education The Educational Revolution as a Critical Juncture New Openings and Emerging Social Opportunities Education as the Engine of Social Mobility New Closures and Diminishing Returns Diplomas as Screening Devices New Privileges and Elites The Persistence of Tertiary Education across Generations The Rise of the Well-Educated in Society Notes 3: Democracy Government by or for the People? Principal Elements of Democracy Representation: Who Are to Be Made Present and How?Responsiveness: Matching Policy Preferences and Policy Outcomes Accountability: Ex Post Control Legitimacy: Confidence and Support The Participatory Revolution New Openings and Emerging Political Opportunities New Opportunities for Preference Formation New Opportunities for the Mobilization of Preferences New Opportunities for the Aggregation of Preferences New Closures and Diminishing Democratization New Closures for Political Preference Formation New Closures for Political Mobilization and Organization New Closures for Political AggregationThe Rise of the Well-Educated in Democratic Politics Notes 4: Education as a Cleavage An Educational Cleavage? Cleavage as a Social and Political Concept A Restructuration of Cleavages Cleavages: Three Elements and Three Levels Different Stages of Cleavage Formation Social Differences: Educational Groups as Social Groups Attitudinal Differences: Cosmopolitans versus Nationalists Institutional Differences: Social-Liberal versus Nationalist Parties Different Stages of Cleavage Formation across Europe Cleavage Formation and the Rise of Political MeritocracyCountry Selection Notes Part II: Contours 5: The Education Gap in Political Participation The Hamburger Bildungskampf The Participation Pyramid Education Gaps in Participation Spectator Politics: Watching, Reading, and Talking Politics Voting Conventional Participation Outside Elections Protest Participation Outside Elections Internet Activism Participation in Deliberative Settings Political Party Membership The Concentration of Activity Participatory Inequalities