When people end up in a job or position they love, was it because they worked hard in school, or did they just get lucky? Why is the idea of progressing on merit under threat? Is there a way we can modernise it for the 21st century? Should we we even try?
Adrian Wooldridge, Political Editor of the Economist and author of its Bagehot column, talks to Ros Tayl ... Show More
Yesterday
Is Britain becoming more racist?
If racism is supposed to be in retreat in Britain, why does it feel so much harder to ignore? We like to see ourselves as a tolerant, post-multicultural country, yet that story jars with a reality in which racial hostility feels more visible: spread across social media and valida ... Show More
32m 13s
Jan 13
Make America Invade Again – What does Trump have in store for 2026?
One year into Donald Trump’s second term, 2026 is already looking worse than 2025. In just its opening days, the White House has intervened militarily in Venezuela, seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic, and revived threats to take Greenland by force. All of t ... Show More
33m 34s
Jul 2021
The Promise Of Meritocracy With Adrian Wooldridge
Does meritocracy create a better world for everyone, or does it create massive inequality? There's been a lot of debate in the last few years about meritocracy, and it's become even more pressing in light of the pandemic. If essential workers are "essential", are they really less ... Show More
44m 5s
Sep 2021
Debate: Michael Sandel vs Adrian Wooldridge on Meritocracy
Meritocracy has long been an article of faith in the modern Western world. Get an education, work hard and the rewards of success will be yours, regardless of class, privilege or wealth. But recently meritocracy has come under attack, with the charge led by Michael Sandel, the Ha ... Show More
1h 2m
Jun 2022
265. Meritocracy or Else | Dr. Adrian Wooldridge
Dr. Adrian Wooldridge is a political editor at The Economist and author of the new book ‘The Aristocracy of Talent: How Meritocracy Made the Modern World.’
In this episode, Dr. Wooldridge and I discuss how his new book has been received, the history of meritocracy, how IQ testin ... Show More
1h 22m
Aug 2023
Is Britain a poor country?
Are we the sick man of Europe? We’ve got all the symptoms: broken economy, falling living standards, we could go on. Does anyone have the remedy to get us back up and running again? Plus, it’s nearly the bank holiday, so let’s look on the bright side. The panel discusses who in p ... Show More
59 m
