How useful is the concept of meritocracy today if we want to implement fair policies in the sensitive area of ​​recruitment and staffing in the public sector? It is true that meritocracy, either as a subjective right or as an organizational principle, remains an extremely flexible concept with particularly uncertain and fluctuating content. Which qualities "deserve" to be rewarded and by what criteria is the "value" of each person recognized are constantly open questions that inevitably refer to different perceptions of what is "fair treatment" or a "just society".

The book presents the evolution of meritocracy from antiquity to the present day through its dialogue with concepts such as democracy, equality, or the effectiveness of the state. The "right to a career" is illuminated by the "guarantees" of meritocracy in the Constitution, while the different methods of personnel selection are evaluated in the context of international trends for merit-based reform of recruitment.

Highlighting the contemporary conditions of the "struggle for positions," the author attempts to redefine the concept of meritocracy, emphasizing the collective dimension of "value" and the responsibility of charismatic individuals to work for the common good. In this "solidarity post-meritocracy," Weber meets Rawls and Manessis, while the reward of talent and the encouragement of excellence coexist harmoniously and equitably with the institutions of "guaranteed abilities for all," in order to ensure substantive opportunities for success for the less privileged members of our society.