What has happened to the common good?

We live in dangerous times for democracy, in an era where the gap between winners and losers is increasing. We are witnessing a populist uprising against traditional parties and elites, who struggle to understand the causes of this discontent that is causing political turmoil around the world. The election of Donald Trump, as well as the triumph of Brexit in Britain, was an angry reaction against decades of rising inequalities and a version of globalization that benefits those at the top, leaving everyday citizens with a sense of helplessness and frustration. It was also a rebuke against the technocratic view of politics, which disregards the bitterness of those who feel they have missed the train of the economy and culture. European democracies are also in a similar impasse.

According to Michael Sandel, if traditional parties want to win back citizens, they must rethink their mission and purpose. And to achieve this, they must learn from the populist protest that displaced them - not by copying the xenophobia and intense nationalism that characterize it, but by taking seriously the legitimate grievances behind these unpleasant feelings. They must also rethink something more subtle, but no less important: our attitude towards success and failure, which has accompanied the rise of inequalities in recent decades. The populist protest is not just an expression of dissatisfaction with immigrants, the outsourcing of economic activities by businesses to other countries, and wage stagnation. It is also, justifiably, against the tyranny of merit.

Sandel points out the arrogance that meritocracy breeds in the winners and the cruelty suffered by those left behind. He also proposes an alternative approach to success - one that highlights the role of luck in human affairs, encourages an ethic of humility and solidarity, and is more open to a politics that serves the concept of the common good.